Cambridgeshire County Council has agreed to reintroduce chemical weed killer, following Brighton's recent call to recommence pesticide treatment.

Cambridgeshire stopped using chemical weed killer in April 2023 in a bid to save £120,000 a year in operational costs, improve the safety of its workforce, and support biodiversity.

As part of the new strategy, it was agreed that weeds would only be removed ‘if they presented a hazard or nuisance to highway users’.

By the summer, the council was receiving reports about the high prevalence of weeds. Officers also determined that the authority had not ‘adequately engaged with key stakeholders’ before revising its strategy.

In a policy review, Cambridgeshire said there had been a ‘significant increase in the proliferation of weeds’ across the county, causing drainage problems and posing a hazard to road users.

The authority also said having to address reports of weeds causing nuisance and hazards meant the strategy was costing around £20,000 more for the year than was planned.

Last week, Cambridgeshire’s highways and transport committee agreed unanimously that the authority would, following a consultation, recommence chemical weed treatment in April.

This will cost the council £180,000 for the 2024-25 financial year.

A policy officer at Pesticide Action Network (PAN) UK, Nick Mole, said: ‘This was a poorly thought out, badly planned attempt to save money rather than a coordinated approach to non-chemical weed control.

‘That is why it failed, as is also the case with Brighton.

‘PAN UK would welcome the opportunity to work with Cambridgeshire County Council to develop a long-term strategy for the phase out of pesticides.’