SOUTH SOMERSET NEWS: Town trials environmentally-friendly way to get rid of weeds

AN ENVIRONMENTAL group has gained the support of local councils to look at alternative methods to control weeds rather than use of chemicals.

The Sustainable Chard Group asked Chard Town Council to look at the opportunity of banning the use of glyphosate chemicals in the town to keep weeds under control.

Cllr Amanda Broom has helped to co-ordinate a trial with the help of the Streetscene team at South Somerset District Council.

Streetscene manager Chris Cooper led the trial and arranged for Glastonbury Town Council to attend with its Foamstream system it uses instead of glyphosates.

Foamstream kills weeds using a precise application of hot water and foam. It has already been proven to be an effective method of herbicide-free weed control.

Chard Town Council currently treat weeds with five sprays in parks per year and two sprays per year on highways – this is done by spraying from a knapsack sprayer on foot, SSDC also use a quad bike to speed up the spraying process.

The trial was well-attended with representatives from Chard Town Council, Glastonbury Town Council, Yarlington Housing Group, South Somerset District Council and members of Sustainable Chard.

Cllr Broom said “I can’t thank Chris enough for setting this up, the trial is a culmination of many weeks of hard work with other councils.

“Our aim is to establish the impact on Chard Town Council if we voted to ban glyphosates – both on the environment and the council budget.”

But the Foamstream system does have its drawbacks.

Chard Town Council clerk Zoe Truong said: “My team’s main concern was the additional time and manpower in using the Foamstream system. It also only destroys the leaves of the weed and more frequent application would be needed to control the roots.”

Glastonbury Town Council confirmed that it is currently able to manage the weeds in the town centre well, but is not removing weeds in other areas which it was once able to do because of the time constraints of using the new equipment.

PHOTO – TOP: Cllr Amanda Broom, Chris Cooper of South Somerset District Council, Laurence Willis of Somerset County Council, Chard Town Council’s Zoe Truong and workers from the district council, Glastonbury Town Council and Chard Town Council ready to trial the Foamstream equipment in Chard.

PHOTO – RIGHT: Foamstream in action.

Other negatives with the Foamstream process include that it requires a larger vehicle to hold the machinery, hot water and foam, while the current method of weed control is ten times quicker than by using Foamstream.

Chris Cooper said: “Whilst we will happily work with Chard Town Council if councillors decided to ban glyphosates in the town, after reviewing the aspects and impacts, there are other ways that we could use resources to achieve other environmental aims, with less cost implications.

“We have successfully been planting wild flowers & wildflower areas to increase pollinator species of plants that are needed by wildlife and help support bees in the environment – this could be looked at for Chard as well.”

Sustainable Chard’s Tim Eggins said: “We are pleased that the local councils are trialling an alternative to glyphosate - they will be joining forward thinking councils such as Glastonbury and Shaftsbury who have already banned this substance for use by their street departments.

“Well done to all those who have supported these actions to this point and for making Chard a healthier place for all its residents.”

Cllr Broom will wait to hear back from Sustainable Chard before taking any further steps.

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