Campaigner Colin Campbell, South Tyneside
“If you wouldn’t spray that into your pram, why are you basically allowing it to be sprayed on the wheels”
Colin has been campaigning to outlaw glyphosate in his local area for some time now. Regular readers may remember when we featured the start of his petition on Change.org last August. He was first alerted to the health risks of the pesticide through his gardener friend’s diagnosis with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma which she believed was connected to exposure to the chemical.
More than 19,000 people signed that original Change.org petition.
But the fight goes on and now Colin is back on the campaign trail to persuade South Tyneside Council to ban use of the glyphosate on paths, park and public spaces - or at least allow residents to opt out of its use.
“It’s time to look again as they have just started spraying again,” he said. The self-proclaimed agitator believes another substance which is being promoted as a safer alternative using vinegar as it’s main ingredient could be a gamechanger for councils looking to save money in these budget-straightened times.
But when we contacted his local council, it doesn’t look like there’s much appetite to change the way they control weeds in Colin’s area.
A South Tyneside Council spokesperson said: “The Council currently uses this common ingredient as part of the maintenance of its green spaces and highways.
“The ingredient is carefully administered by fully trained staff within the application guidelines. Similar weed killers are widely available in DIY outlets and garden centres.
“We follow government regulations for weed control and await any further guidance from DEFRA on the matter.”
You can support Colin by adding your name to his Change.org petition here or sending a message of support via the comments.