ePetition details

Ban the use of glyphosate (a toxic weedkiller) in Southampton city parks and premises

We the undersigned petition the council to ban the use of glyphosate in Southampton city parks and premises.

Glyphosate is a herbicide and desiccant applied to crops before harvest. It is used to kill weeds and grasses that compete with the growing crop. Glyphosate is harmful to human health (risk of cancer) and has negative impacts on ecosystems (soil, fungus, insects,...). The chemical was initially put into use in the 1970s to counteract the problems caused by the pesticides being used at the time (drift, crop damage, reducing efficacy, the risk to human health (1)). It was originally considered to be non-toxic (2), and now residues are found in water, soil and food. An investigation by the WHO (2015) labelled it as "probably carcinogenic to humans" (Group 2Acarcinogen) (3), and a jury in Los Angeles has also found a weedkiller containing glyphosate to have been a substantial factor in a man developing cancer.

Glyphosate has, according to recent studies, been linked to the death of bees. It weakens their gut bacteria making them more susceptible to disease leading to a higher bee mortality rate. Bees play an essential role in our ecosystem because of their primary mission, which is pollination. This action allows plants to reproduce. Bees are among the most effective pollinating insects alongside wasps and butterflies. Globally, there are more honey bees than any other pollinating insects. They are vital to pollinate the plants that produce the food that we eat to survive.

Pollination is vital to the health of the global food system. And a single bee colony can pollinate 300 million flowers in one day. If the bees go extinct, a ripple effect will be felt through the ecosystems, such as a plant die-off that will impact the entire food chain. "The absence of bees and other pollinators would wipe out coffee, apples, almonds, tomatoes, and cocoa, to name just a few of the crops that rely on pollination," Graziano da Silva, scholar and director-general of the Food and Agriculture Organization from 2012 to 2019.

The succession of lawsuits filed against Monsanto for the use of glyphosate in its products and the success of a number of these should tell us about the danger that is posed primarily to employees of the city councils who have regular contact with glyphosate products, also to its citizens, and to local ecosystems.

The following countries have taken steps to restrict or ban the use of glyphosate herbicides: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, Canada, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Scotland, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Vietnam (4). According to many of the above countries, the reason for the ban is due to its carcinogenicity, with some also quoting it as an endocrine-disrupting chemical. Six member states of the EU (France, Belgium, Greece, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Malta) sent a letter to the European Commission calling for a study to be conducted into possible alternatives, following the controversial renewal of its licencing in the EU in 2017.

In the UK, many councils have started to move away from the use of glyphosate, issuing bans or restrictions on pesticides and herbicides: Brighton, Bristol, Bury (ban in children's play areas), Croydon (Banned as of 2019), Derry City (Northern Ireland), Frensham, Frome, Glastonbury (banned glyphosate spraying on council-owned land and public spaces), Hammersmith & Fulham (Banned for spraying in parks), Lewes, Midlothian (Scotland), North Somerset (Banned in children's playing fields), Trafford, Wadebridge and Manningtree.

It is essential to understand, from the council's point of view, if weeds get out of control, they can cause problems on kerb, channels and footways, damage surface infrastructure and collect litter. However, the city council can use other techniques for killing weed, such as hot foam. Switching to a non-chemical approach to this problem can reduce the risks involved in the storage, handling, use and disposal of herbicide products such as those containing glyphosate.

This petition requests Southampton City Council to ban the use of glyphosate in Southampton city parks and premises.


1. https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12940-016-0117-0?mbid=synd_yahoofood
2. https://www.iarc.fr/featured-news/media-centre-iarc-news-glyphosate/
3. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10311-017-0689-0
4. https://www.baumhedlundlaw.com/toxic-tort-law/monsanto-roundup-lawsuit/where-is-glyphosate-banned/

This ePetition ran from 18/05/2021 to 28/10/2021 and has now finished.

189 people signed this ePetition.

Council response

Southampton City Council (“the Council”) is committed to protecting Southampton’s natural environment by operating more sustainably. The Council’s Greener City Plan sets out how it will contribute to tackling some of the most challenging environmental issues in the city. There are over 70 areas ‘managed for wildlife’ by the Council’s ecology team across the city, from small community-managed beds to established wildflower grasslands. The Council is committed to planting at least 25 new urban wildflower areas by 2025 to help native pollinators, including bees.

The Council carries out weed control on land it owns and manages safely and in accordance with its obligations arising, in particular, under the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986 (as amended) and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002. The Council abides by the Code of Practice for Using Plant Protection Products (“the Code of Practice”), which reflects government policy to reduce to the lowest possible level the effect of pesticide use on people, wildlife, plants and the environment while making sure that pests, diseases and weeds are effectively controlled. Any person who uses pesticides for, or on behalf of, the Council must have an appropriate certificate of competence.

The Council cannot currently support a general ban on glyphosate because, in some circumstances, its use is considered necessary to control weeds in an effective and cost-efficient way. This is particularly the case where uncontrolled weeds create safety and economic risks to public amenities. On highways, footways and paved areas, for example, Gallup Biograde 360 (containing glyphosate) is sprayed two or three times per year (depending on weed growth) to prevent surface damage and alleviate the risk of flooding by keeping drainage routes clear. The chemicals used by the Council to manage weeds are approved for use as pesticides under the Food and Environmental Protection Act 1985, having undergone a rigorous approval and testing process.

At the present time, non-chemical methods do not present a scalable, cost-effective solution for weed control on highways, footways, and paved areas. In relation to green spaces, four of Southampton’s parks have received the Green Flag Award, which includes assessment of chemical use. The Council is exploring ways it can go further to reduce chemical use in its parks by ‘designing out’ and using physical and biological control methods. Where chemical use in parks is still considered necessary, the Council uses methods of application which keep use to a minimum. For example, the Council uses spot treatment (application of chemical to small, discrete areas) instead of blanket spaying. Where appropriate, pre-mixed formulations are used to minimise the risk of spillage. Where felling to recycle is not a practicable method of tree control, ecoplugs containing crystalline glyphosate are used instead of spraying.

The Council is committed to eliminating the unnecessary use of pesticides. Decisions on chemical use are actively reviewed and consideration given to non-chemical alternatives, such as hand picking or thermal and electric weed control. The Council will switch to non-chemical methods as soon as they can be deployed effectively and at proportionate cost to residents.