Roundup under fire in fight against knotweed Flood insurance concerns covered
ALTERNATIVES to using Roundup to kill Japanese knotweed across the county will be explored after Cllr Deirdre Wadding called for the move in a motion.
Cllr Wadding initially sought for an outright ban on the spray, but this was changed to limiting the use of the chemical on our roadsides.
She said there is a body of evidence highlighting the detrimental impact of using the spray on wildlife and on soil, adding that a French court recently upheld an action taken by a French farmer against its producer.
Cllr Anthony Kelly seconded the motion. Cllr Ger Carthy said most people are aware that there is a serious problem with invasive Japanese knotweed in County Wexford.
Cllr Malcolm Byrne said councillors need scientific advice before they can make a decision.
Cllr Robbie Ireton asked what alternatives to the chemical are available, adding that there can’t be a situation where tourists visiting the county are confronted with the sight of weeds all along our roads and footpaths.
Cllr Jim Moore said the area is already regulated and people have to be certified to use Roundup.
Cllr Oisin O’Connell suggested changing the motion to read a ban on the habitual use of Roundup by the local authority.
Cllr Tony Dempsey asked for the environment section to present a review of Roundup to councillors.
Spraying the invasive knotweed.
CEO Tom Enright said there are different types of systemic weed killer available to use. He said Roundup burns the leaves and goes into the roots, killing Japanese knotweed. Mr Enright said banning Roundup outright would cause huge restrictions for Wexford County Council staff. HOUSES in the Wexford town area are designated as being in flood plains even though hundreds of thousands of euros has been spent on flood protection measures near their homes.
Cllr George Lawlor raised the issue, saying some of the home owners are having difficulty getting house insurance as a result.
He said he has been contacted by a number of residents in an area where major remedial works were undertaken to prevent flooding at Killeens and yet the area still remains designated in a flood plain.
‘A retention wall was built 20 years ago,’ he said. Director of Services Eamonn Hore said 90 per cent of home owners living in designated flood plains are approved for insurance.
Cllr Lawlor said residents in the Arthurstown area have also been affected, adding that difficulties can arise in getting planning permission. Mr Hore said if a flood assessment report shows that protection works have been carried out planning permission will be granted. WEXFORD County Council has agreed to be flexible when it comes to applying burial-bye laws in the county, laws which include forbidding burials on Sunday’s and after 2 p.m. in certain cemeteries.
According to the bye-laws, agreed by the councillors, no internments can take place in CLLR JIM MOORE welcomed funding of €8,000 for Science Week in County Wexford from Science Foundation Ireland.
Science Week runs from November 12 to November 19 and events will be centred in libraries across the county.
On Friday, November 17, an open day showcase and large scale STEM promotion event entitled ‘Wexsci Science Showcase’ takes place in County Hall, Carricklawn.
Cllr Moore praised the council’s community department staff on their work on the initiative, saying Science Week is important from an educational viewpoint also and will make for an interesting week. Crosstown, Wexford or Enniscorthy cemeteries on a Sunday, unless by special arrangement. The arrival of all funerals must be regulated as not to interfere with previous engagements and no funeral is to be booked to arrive at the gate after 2 p.m., except in cases of special arrangements.
Cllr Oisin O’Connell said he hopes the bye-laws will not be too severely intepreted.
Chairman Cllr John Hegarty said all of the councillors concerns have been included in the document. ‘Any situation that is delicate or different willl be handled in terms of the sensitivity that is required.’