Residents claim “children are being put in danger” over a local authority’s use of potentially cancer-causing weed killer.
A Forres councillor is backing a local retiree’s calls for Moray Council to stop using glyphosate weed killer in public places.
The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, was shocked after a discussion with a council employee, who was treating areas along Cautley Close, Falconer Avenue and Balnaferry Farm Lane off the Grantown road.
“Kids were coming home from school,” she said. “And people were walking their dogs while he sprayed the pavements.
“The equipment is discreet so how many people notice a normally-dressed guy, often with no PPE, walking along a residential pavement?”
She asked him what was he was spraying and was told ‘glyphosate’.
In December 2022, the Gazette reported that Forres resident Rinaldo Coluccia’s dogs, Sweetie and Honey, died after eating grass near ‘the walkies’ path by the A96 that had been treated with the weed killer.
Mr Coluccia employed Grigor and Young Solicitors, who intimated a formal claim to the council for compensation. When liability was denied, they raised an action against the local authority at Elgin Sheriff Court. The council did not defend it.
A local authority spokesperson explained: “While our insurer did not find us liable, we decided to settle the case without an admission of liability to avoid prolonged legal proceedings. The decision was in the best interest of all parties.”
Following a decision in February 2023 not to spray in some areas within open spaces, including areas around tree bases, benches, signs, and play areas with grass matting and rubber crumb surfacing, Moray Council’s use of glyphosate has reduced by almost 50 per cent.
The council spokesperson explained: “We are working towards a 100 per cent reduction by the end of 2025, as required by the current anticipated date from which use will be banned.
“Glyphosate is currently legally approved for use in Scotland, England and Wales until December 2025 and is approved as safe to use by the national regulator, the Health and Safety Executive.”
“Meanwhile, where and when is the glyphosate being sprayed around Forres?” asked the complainant. “Along which residential streets?
“Residents should be warned.”
Councillor Draeyk van der Horn (Green) has been calling for a complete ban for the last two years.
He highlighted that, in 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified glyphosate as “carcinogenic”.
He said: “It’s a toxic chemical with devastating consequences for human health and our environment. This herbicide annihilates non-target plant species, disrupts ecosystems, and degrades soil, threatening the long-term agricultural viability of Moray.
“Banning glyphosate is a decisive, necessary step to safeguard the health and safety of present and future generations…”
“Despite ongoing debate, the potential cancer risk, particularly to agricultural workers and those living near sprayed areas, is great.
“Banning glyphosate is a decisive, necessary step to safeguard the health and safety of present and future generations.”
Six years ago, in September 2018, the GMB trade union called for the UK Government to immediately ban glyphosate.
Cllr van der Horn said: “Moray Council must urgently warn the public about the dangers of this poison and inform local residents when it is in use.
“Immediate action is needed to eliminate its use in our gardens and fields so I strongly urge the council, garden centres, the whisky industry and food producers to ban this toxic substance to protect our environment and health.”
The Gazette visited the park at Mannachie, near the streets the woman had seen council workers spraying with glyphosate. The edges of the paths through the busy park had been sprayed with weed killer.
Jackie Fraser was out walking Benji.
She said: “Spraying glyphosate in public places means any person, or any pet, could come into contact with it. For example, dogs eating grass or children playing in the field putting fingers in their mouths.
“It’s not right that a weed killer likely to be banned is still being used.”
Nearby resident Tracey MacDonald recently saw council workers out killing weeds.
She said: “The glyphosate goes everywhere when it’s windy! Even when they’re targeting weeds outside gardens, it kills plants on the inside of fences.
“It shouldn’t be used on land where people go, especially not on housing developments full of children and pets.”
A passer-by who wishes to remain anonymous passes around ten other dog walkers every morning.
She said: “That’s at least 10 dogs that are being put at risk by glyphosate here alone each day. And some folk have two or three dogs with them!
“Families come from everywhere in town to use the playing facilities at Mannachie – children are being put in danger here.”
Finally, Dunphail resident Jim Farquharson, who often plays with his dog Rurai in Mannachie park, was not happy to hear about the continued threat of glyphosate.
“If something happened to Rurai I would be devastated,” he said. “I live on my own and he’s my constant companion.
“Moray Council knows it’s wrong to continue using the stuff.”
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