Calls for council to ditch the pesticides
BBC Springwatch presenter Iolo Williams and Stirling MP Alyn Smith are supporting a call for Stirling Council to stop using pesticides.
Pesticide Free Stirling is leading the call to ban the council’s use of glyphosatebased herbicides as a means of killing the county’s weeds.
The non-governmental organisation (NGO) based in Dunblane argues the move would save the council thousands as well as create a safe environment for Stirling’s children.
Pesticide Free Stirling has written to Stirling Council’s chief executive Carol Beattie and council leader Scott Farmer asking the council to adopt a three-year phase out plan and undertake a trial of non-pesticide alternatives.
Springwatch presenter and ecologist, Iolo Williams is leading a national campaign for all councils to become pesticide free.
The TV presenter said: “I support calls for all councils to become pesticide free, including Stirling Council. We are in the midst of an ecological crisis which will see one million species including 40 per cent of our insects threatened with extinction in the next few decades – that’s not even mentioning the amount we have lost already.”
Pesticide Free Stirling founder and director, James Byrne, said, “As well as agriculture, pesticides are widely used in our towns and cities. They are used in all the places where we live, work and play - on the streets playgrounds, park, schools, and hospitals.”
Mr Byrne said: “There’s absolutely no reason to use pesticides in our towns; we’re not growing crops and we won’t be overrun by dandelions if we don’t use them.
“There are so many alternatives to pesticides which are just as effective, don’t have harmful side effects and are cost neutral compared to pesticides.”
Stirling SNP MP Alyn Smith met with the group. He said: “I am supportive of the cause. In particular, we discussed the ecological benefits of rewilding grass verges, at least in parts of Stirling.
“Taking such an approach would undoubtedly lead to significant environmental benefits, not least in helping to address concerns about dwindling numbers of pollinators.”
Stirling Council’s only Green councillor Alasdair Tollemache would welcome the council going pesticide free and joining the likes of Paris, Barcelona, Copenhagen, Toronto and New York in doing so.
The Dunblane and Bridge of Allan councillor said: “This is the time to tackle the climate crisis and make Stirling a safer and greener place to live.
“Let’s all join together and see Stirling Council, join other major European cities and become pesticide free to protect human health and threatened wildlife.”
A Stirling Council spokesman said: “Environmental concerns are always at the forefront of our work and we are currently running a Climate Survey to gather public opinion on all matters related to the environment, so that we can work together to develop a Stirlingwide programme of action to tackle the ongoing climate emergency.
“We encourage all residents to join our Climate Conversation at: http://bit.ly/ StirlingClimateConversation2020.
“We constantly review our use of pesticides to ensure we only use products that have been deemed safe for use by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and UK Government. “We also use staff who have been specifically trained in the use of pesticides and carry out any work in a safe manner, with due regard for the safety of both people and the environment.”