A Blackpool councillor is calling on the local authority to stop using a common weedkiller in public spaces, citing concerns over potential health risks to residents, pets, and wildlife. Councillor Jim O’Neill, who represents the Marton ward, has urged Blackpool Council to consider a ban on the use of glyphosate-based herbicides in the town’s parks, pavements, and roads.
The chemical is currently used by Enveco, a contractor that manages grounds maintenance for the council. According to the company, the weedkiller is applied twice a year, during the spring and summer months, to prevent weeds that could otherwise cause drainage problems or create trip hazards on footpaths. The contractor maintains that glyphosate is the most effective and safest product currently certified for use in these areas, as there is no viable alternative available.
However, the call for a ban follows ongoing debate about the safety of the chemical. The World Health Organization’s cancer research agency classified glyphosate as a probable human carcinogen in 2015. Additionally, Professor Michael Antoniou of King’s College London has warned that exposure to such herbicides may be a significant risk factor for various health issues, including kidney and liver disease, as well as several types of cancer.
Concerns were heightened by a January 2026 report from the Pesticide Action Network UK, which detected traces of the chemical in several playgrounds across the country. Councillor O’Neill, who became the council’s first Reform UK representative following a by-election in October 2024, stated that the council should take proactive steps to protect the community. His request comes as more than 80 other councils across the UK have already moved to restrict or eliminate the use of such pesticides in public areas.
Nationally, the issue is under review, with the UK government expected to conduct a public consultation on the future of glyphosate usage this year, leading to a final decision by December 2026. Furthermore, a private member’s bill introduced by Siân Berry MP is currently being considered in Parliament, which, if passed, would prohibit councils in England from using the chemical in public spaces from 2028.
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