New Cambridge weed-killing strategy to cut herbicide use

The council hopes to use mechanical sweepers to clear the weeds

Chemical weed killers are to be mostly replaced by mechanical sweepers to clear the plants from the sides of Cambridge's roads, a council said.

Cambridge City Council voted unanimously to endorse a new plan to cut down the use of herbicides.

It follows a number of herbicide reduction trials in the city and the hope is the machines' weed-ripping brushes will do the trick instead.

However, the council said herbicides could be used on "aggressive" weeds.

The issue was discussed at a meeting of the Labour-controlled city council's environment and community scrutiny committee.

Olaf Hauk, the Liberal Democrat's spokesperson for climate action and environment, said he was "very happy" the council was going to formally adopt the change of approach to dealing with weeds after the herbicide-free trials.

The council hopes to use mechanical sweepers to clear the weeds

A report prepared by council officers did, however, say they needed to keep the use of herbicides in the council's "arsenal" to use on "aggressive and intrusive" weeds.

Labour's Dinah Pounds, who represents Romsey Ward, asked how the council proposed to clear parked cars from roads in order for the sweepers to do their work.

Officers suggested the city council could work in collaboration with Cambridgeshire County Council, which they said did have the powers to close a road.

They added that by working with the county council they could also try and organise maintenance work to be done by highways officers alongside the city council cleaning work.

The committee voted unanimously to endorse the new plan.