Council blames weeds on Brexit
Astonishing claim from Greens in Brighton... after they ban host of ‘toxic’ herbicides!
A GREEN Party-run council which banned a weedkiller and has now seen its streets become overgrown has blamed the problem on Brexit.
Brighton and Hove City Council says staffing shortages caused by Britain’s exit from the EU mean it cannot recruit enough staff from Europe to tackle the infestation.
The council now plans to give residents tools so they can weed pavements and grass verges outside their homes themselves.
It says most seasonal staff used to come from European countries in summer, but it has become harder for them to work here.
In 2019, the eco- conscious council banned glyphosate – an ingredient in most weedkillers and herbicides – describing it as ‘toxic’ and ‘carcinogenic’.
As a result of the ban streets are overrun with weeds.
Last year several elderly and disabled residents needed hospital treatment after tripping over weeds on pavements, and businesses complain it makes the seaside resort ‘scruffy’.
The council said it would now ask community groups of residents to help, adding: ‘We will provide advice, tools and support. We are doing all we can to get back on top of the issue.’
But residents slammed its Brexit excuse. One said: ‘That is ridiculous. Do they think we’re mad? To blame Brexit is laughable when it’s clearly the decision not to use weedkiller.
‘The council is an absolute joke. Pavements and grass verges have been choked with weeds every year since they banned weedkiller. Leaving the European Union hasn’t made weeds more likely to grow.’
Another said: ‘The council has used all sorts of excuses, from Covid to staff shortages, but the reality is that if they were to reintroduce controlled use of some herbicides we wouldn’t have this problem.
‘To ask residents to weed their own streets shows they have really lost the plot.’
The council claims it has been able to recruit only nine out of the 26 seasonal staff it would normally take on.
A spokesman said: ‘There are definitely more weeds on pavements than we’d like. The key problem is recruiting staff.
‘As many of our seasonal staff used to come from European countries for the summer, the ability of European nationals to work in the UK after Brexit, alongside the pandemic, is continuing to have an impact.’
This month EU regulator the European Chemicals Agency said glyphosate did not cause cancer, although it still said it is harmful to wildlife.