Estates asked to opt in for weed spraying in 2021

Westmeath County Council has agreed to trial a new approach to the contentious use of 'Roundup-type products' for weed control by asking housing estates in the county to formally opt in to the practice in 2021.

This is a shift from what was adopted last March, when councillors decided to continue the use of controversial glyphosate-based products for its weed spraying programme in all areas aside from the greenway unless it was formally requested in writing not to do so by a Residents Association.

Despite some concerns about the proposal and how it would be publicised, councillors opted to trial the new opt-in approach for a year and then review how it works at the suggestion of Director of Services, Barry Kehoe, at the December meeting of Westmeath County Council, held in Athlone on Monday.

Green Party Cllr Louise Heavin, who is Chairperson of the Planning and Transportation Strategic Policy Committee (SPC), said their group's recommendation is that for 2021 “housing estate roads would only be sprayed if the Residents Association choose to request that the estate be sprayed, effectively moving from an opt-out position to an opt-in position.”

Arrangements will be made to communicate this change in system via the Public Participation Network (PPN), requesting that groups consider whether they want their estate sprayed with weedkiller in the normal way, she added.

Director of Services Barry Kehoe told members that the deadline will be the end of February to opt in for weed spraying in the normal way before the spraying takes place in March.

Athlone Councillors Frankie Keena and John Dolan both voiced concerns about groups who are not involved in the PPN hearing about the change and potentially missing their slots but Green Cllr Hazel Smyth described the move as a “worthy change” after being contacted by a lot of people worried about the use glyphosate-based products in local communities.

Having walked the greenway recently with a member of Athlone Tidy Towns, Cllr John Dolan said the amount of weeds close to town was “less than appealing” and could take years to deal with it if they continue not to spray them in the future. While he had no problem with not spraying on the rural parts of the Old Rail Trail, the area within a half a kilometre of town is different and needs to be dealt with and he couldn't believe what he saw there recently.

While acknowledging environmental concerns, the Fine Gael representative said he has used glyphosate-based products and found them quite safe.

Athlone's Mayor Cllr Aengus O'Rourke agreed that the greenway is “unsightly” and needs to maintained. Having done some work on the topic, he doesn't see many alternatives to the use of Roundup-type products to control weeds, saying that the council research looking into this area is taking too long.

Earlier, the meeting heard that in early 2020 Westmeath County Council committed to work with Kildare County Council to undertake research into the replacement of pesticides and herbicides for local authority maintenance regimes and progress is expected on this study in 2021.

Barry Kehoe, Director of Services in Westmeath County Council reminded the members that the greenway is a wildlife corridor and there is a good reason not to spray there but it is an issue that can be kept under review. This change only deals with estates and he said the greenway can be discussed further at municipal level.