London council criticised for spending £300,000 on weedkiller

London council criticised for spending £300,000 on weedkillerThe council was one of 200 found to still be using pesticides that contain glyphosate, which the World Health Organ­isa­tion said is ‘prob­ably’ linked to can­cer and hor­monal dis­rup­tion

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Redbridge Council is under fire after spending almost £300,000 last year on the use of a potential hazardous weedkiller.

The east London council was one of 200 found by the Mail on Sunday to still be using pesticides that contain glyphosate, which the World Health Organ­isa­tion (WHO) said is “prob­ably” linked to can­cer and hor­monal dis­rup­tion.

Glyphosate is the world’s most widely used herbicide and is commonly known by its original trading name Roundup.

Though it is legal in the UK, its use has been restricted in the European Union. However, the UK’s Health and Safety Executive is now con­sid­er­ing whether to renew its safety licence, the Mail reports.

The FOI shows that Redbridge spent the singular highest amount on weedkillers last year, at a total of £288,423.97. This is an increase on the £260,444.71 it spent in 2024, according to the Pesticide Action Network (PAN) UK.

Redbridge Town HallSupplied

However, a Redbridge Council spokesperson said the total cost “reflects both the product and the professional staff needed to carry out the weed‑killing safely and effectively”.

“As with all contracts, our priority is ensuring we get the best value for money for local taxpayers, and we carry out periodic reviews to make sure this happens,” they said.

They added: “The Health and Safety Executive and DEFRA have been clear that glyphosate is approved for use in the UK and considered safe when used in line with regulatory guidance.

“It remains widely used by local authorities as part of their weed‑control programmes.

“As a council, we also have schemes in place, including more than 4km of Pollinator Pathways and our tree‑pit adoption programme, which remove areas from chemical treatment.”

Vaseem Ahmed, with the official opposition group the Redbridge Independents, said: “£288,423 on weedkiller is an eye-catching figure.

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“With the council under such financial strain, every pound matters.

“Residents deserve transparency over why this level of spending was considered necessary, whether procurement delivered value for money, and who signed off on these decisions.”

The Wanstead Climate Action Coordinators group said the increased spending meant “more children and other vulnerable groups are exposed to noxious chemicals”.

“For over three years, residents have asked Redbridge to stop pesticide use in public playgrounds as has happened in some other areas, such as Hackney,” the group said.

“It is hard to find any evidence that this has happened.”

The Redbridge spokesperson continued: “We all want our streets, parks and public spaces to be clean, tidy and accessible to residents, and, at times, chemical weed control plays a part in achieving these aims.

“That said, we recognise and share concerns about the use of chemicals and look to minimise their use wherever possible.”