St Peters Road Community Weeding Trial Ends
In response to Portishead residents' concerns over North Somerset Council's use of chemical weedkillers, particularly glyphosate, a community-led initiative to explore manual weeding was launched on St Peters Road. The trial aimed to address environmental and health concerns by promoting hands-on community involvement in keeping public spaces weed-free without chemicals.
Local residents have raised significant objections to chemical weedkillers, which pose risks to bees, wildlife, and human health. Many in the community have called for safer, sustainable alternatives. In answer to this demand, Portishead Town Council, in collaboration with North Somerset Council, initiated the St Peters Road Community Weeding Trial, a collaborative project designed to engage residents in maintaining their street without chemical sprays.
The trial demonstrated initial promise when, in October 2023, a team of five volunteers and council officers manually cleared 220 meters of St Peters Road using hoes and other non-chemical tools. The council had suspended using glyphosate-based weedkillers on the road during 2022, encouraged by the visible impact of community-driven efforts.
However, for this approach to be viable long-term, substantial, ongoing community buy-in and participation were essential. The council estimated, that to ensure successful continuation of the pilot, it would require a team of around 12 people working for two hours every 8-10 weeks, four times per year, to ensure all the road was covered.
Unfortunately, despite some positive initial efforts, the trial did not maintain the level of consistent community engagement required to make the initiative successful. As a result, Portishead Town Council made the difficult decision to discontinue the St Peters Road Weeding Trial.
Councillor David Gunnell commented, "While it's disappointing that the St Peters Road trial couldn't be sustained, it has shown the strong desire within our community to reduce reliance on chemical weedkillers. We remain committed to exploring sustainable solutions and supporting residents who want to lead efforts in their own neighbourhoods. Together, we can work towards safer and more eco-friendly ways of keeping our town beautiful."
This outcome has disappointed some residents who hoped for an effective, eco-friendly alternative to chemical weed control. Moving forward North Somerset Council will resume spot spraying with a more diluted chemical solution, underscoring their commitment to addressing safety concerns while ensuring effective weed management.
Portishead Town Council is open to exploring new sustainable approaches that can succeed with broad community involvement.
They also remain committed to reducing the use of chemical weedkillers in Portishead and are happy to advise and support any community groups who wish to establish chemical spray free areas in their neighbourhoods if there is sufficient local interest.
For more information, or if you are considering setting up your own weeding group in your area and would like some guidance, please contact Portishead Town Council on 01275 847 078.
Posted: Wed, 11 Dec 2024