Weeds Proliferate in Borough as Glyphosate Remains Unused

Contractors await instructions from council despite decision to resume

Weeds remain a problem on local streets. Picture: Peter Thompson

June 17, 2025

A query from a local councillor has revealed that Hounslow Council is yet to resume the use of the weedkiller glyphosate despite announcing its intention to do so in February.

Cllr John Todd, who represents Chiswick Homefields ward, questioned why he was still seeing council contractors manually removing weeds which were proliferating in his ward.

He was told by a representative of Hounslow Highways that the council contractor had yet to receive an instruction from the council to restart using the chemical.

The weedkiller is most effective during the growing season in the spring. Cllr Todd called for an urgent decision to be made saying that the streets were currently unsightly and uncared for with weeds out of control.

Hounslow Highways stopped most use of glyphosate in 2019 after reports suggested that it could be contributing to a decline in the global bee population. More recent research indicates that the dangers of glyphosate have been exaggerated and local authorities across the country are resuming its use as non-chemical alternatives have proven ineffective and manual removal is very expensive. The guidance currently given to local authorities in the UK from the Health & Safety Executive is that glyphosate is safe to use. The chemical is currently only used in the borough for managing invasive species like Japanese Knotweed and Mares Tail.

The removal of the ban in Hounslow received cross party support. The local Conservatives quoted figures showing that manual removal was over 100 times more expensive that chemical methods.

Hounslow Highways told Cllr Todd that it expected to receive formal instruction to use glyphosate ‘within a matter of weeks’ and training was ongoing to ensure operatives can use it safely. All operatives using the chemical must be certified to do so. In the meantime, it has increased the size of its dedicated weed removal teams to 18 and is concentrating on manual removal in areas such as Chiswick High Road, London Road and Staines Road.

A spokesperson for Hounslow Council’s cabinet said, “Cabinet approved the use of glyphosate to treat, and kill, weeds across the borough by Hounslow Highways, earlier this year. Glyphosate has been in limited use since 2019 for invasive plant removal – namely Japanese Knotweed and Giant Hogweed.

“The non-chemical-based alternatives and manual removal of weeds that we have trialled are ineffective at managing and controlling the spread, strength, and frequency of weed growth on our roads. As a consequence, some hard surfaces across the borough are at risk of deterioration.

“We are currently working to support to Hounslow Highways to reintroduce the use of glyphosate, later this month. Its use is regulated, and application will be conducted in line with requirements.”