Message from Waverley Borough Council on phasing out pesticides.

Waverley Borough Council will hopefully be adopting a Pesticides Policy and Action Plan shortly that has been drafted as part of the Councils move towards phasing out the use of pesticides.   In order to help deliver the action plan we are looking to start the undertaking of trials of pesticide free products as an alternative to the traditional Glyphosate based products to control weeds within the borough.   As part of this, we have been in discussion with Surrey County Council highways earlier this year about our intention to trial a different product in selected areas to treat weeds on highways.  Highways areas are where the largest volumes of pesticide based chemicals have been previously applied in the borough.  SCC have been in agreement with our intentions and we will be sharing this same information with them shortly for comment before starting.

In consultation with Cllr Townsend as our portfolio holder we have selected for four ward areas;

Cranleigh West, Godalming & Charterhouse, Haslemere Critchmere & Shottermill and Farnham Hale & Heath End, where we will undertake these initial trials on SCC highway areas.  Within these identified ward areas, we have selected roads and a few footways where we will conduct the trial (identified by a red dotted line on the maps), please also see the attached excel file for more specific details of the identified trial areas.   The relevant ward members have been notified.

The product we will be using is called New Way which contains Acetic acid as the active ingredient.  There is a potential for a strong Vinegar odour following application that may linger for a period of time but eventually dissipate.

In regards to weed control on SCC highways in the rest of the ward areas and indeed the Borough as a whole, we are only undertaking one normal (pesticide based) weed spray throughout the borough, instead of the previous two sprays in preceding years, again this is too support the action plan of the forthcoming Pesticides Policy by reducing the usage of pesticide products.

We will be arranging for some communications about this with residents, so that they are aware of what is happening.

If you have any questions or queries relating to this, please do not hesitate to contact me as soon as possible.   We are hoping to next week, weather depending and complete the trial by the end of the month if possible.

Kind Regards

Greenspaces Manager

Waverley Borough Council