Tory ‘loses hope in politics’ after weedkiller row
A COUNCILLOR says she has ‘lost hope in politics’ after a row over the use of a controversial weed killer.
St Andrew’s ward Conservative councillor Sara Britcliffe called on Hyndburn council to launch an immediate review of its ‘use of herbicides and pesticides and have it finished before next spring, in particular the use of Glyphosate’.
It comes after hundreds of dead bees were found lying on streets in Oswaldtwistle just days after council workers had sprayed the area to remove weeds.
However Coun Britcliffe’s was amended by the Labour council’s environment boss Coun Paul Cox and refers the issue to Lancashire County Council (LCC) which is responsible for maintaining highways, roadside verges and footpaths.
After the amended motion was passed, Coun Britcliffe said: “Tonight I honestly lost hope in politics.
“I lost hope as I saw party politics being played with my generation and our children’s generation’s future. I believe that we as a council could have made a difference to our environmental footprint in Hyndburn.
“Instead they refused to take any part in reviewing their own uses and passed the buck to LCC.”
Coun Cox told the meeting that LCC were responsible for 92pc of pesticide use in Hyndburn.
He said: “I thought this would be a more sensible motion to ask the question you’re asking but to LCC which has the majority of use.
“We will ask them to review it and look at other ways and ask other boroughs to see if they have stopped using such chemicals.
“I think that’s a sensible approach rather than asking us to do all that work for only 8pc.”