Council formally adopts pesticide-free plan

Waverley Borough Council will phase out the use of pesticides on council-owned land following the formal adoption of its Pesticide Policy and Action Plan.

At the Full Council meeting last night (Tuesday), 39 councillors supported the plan, which looks to phase out the use of pesticides, with the ambition of being pesticide free in three years.

The phasing out of such pesticides is in line with the council's Climate Emergency Action Plan, which was adopted last year and addresses the growing concern over the effect of chemicals on both the environment and wildlife.

Councillor Liz Townsend, Waverley's Portfolio Holder for Economic Development, Parks and Leisure, said: "This is fantastic news for our environment and our residents too.

"As a council, we declared a climate emergency last year, and this was one of the items included in our draft Climate Emergency Action Plan.

"We know from listening carefully to those who live in our borough that they want our green spaces to be pesticide-free, and although a standard of street maintenance is expected, they do not want to this to be at the expense of our environment."

The council began trialling pesticide-free weed control in September in parts of Godalming, Haslemere, Cranleigh and Farnham as part of the council's assessment of alternatives to traditionally used pesticide based products. The council has also stopped using herbicides in playgrounds in the borough.

Over the past year, Waverley Borough Council has already enhanced a number of other areas including the setting aside of wildflower areas to benefit pollinators, and reviewing grass cutting frequency. With a future move to more electric vehicles and machinery wherever possible, this will result in lower vehicle emissions and noise pollution.

All grass cuttings and prunings are composted and used on council sites, with any surplus offered to local allotments and community gardens.

To view the council's draft Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan, click here.