Under the Weed Act 1959, enforcement action can be taken against the landowner to stop harmful weeds from spreading if they are found growing on their land.
The 5 injurious weeds specified in the act are:
- common ragwort
- spear thistle
- creeping or field thistle
- broad leaved dock
- curled dock
The act was amended by the Ragwort Control Act of 2003. We comply with the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs Code of Practice on how to prevent the spread of ragwort.
Both Japanese knotweed and giant hogweed are dealt with under the provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. We have an ongoing programme to control Japanese knotweed on our land.
How we control weeds on streets and pathways
Weeds can grow in between pavements and at the roadside, and can affect our towns, but also reproduce and grow quickly, causing damage to drains, pavement and road surfaces if not kept under control. The most efficient way to tackle this is with a borough-wide treatment programme.
Chemical weed control is widely accepted to be the best method of weed control growing in roads and pavements. The main reasons being that manual removal is very labour intensive, it only provides short-term results and can cause damage to the pavement surface. The herbicide used is only effective against weeds that it comes into contact with, absorbing through the growth that is visible above ground level causing it to die. Weeds will eventually 'die-back' and the residue is removed through routine scheduled street cleaning.
When we treat
Weed control is carried out by a specialist, qualified staff and contractors in line with manufacturer’s instructions using a suitable herbicide, similar to ordinary garden weed killer.
Conditions should be dry and calm when spraying the herbicide and wet weather may delay the treatment or make it less effective in some areas.
Applications are generally carried out via knap-sacking (use of a backpack containing the specialist herbicidal treatment) or via some road sweepers.
How we treat
We carry out the treatment programme twice per year (usually March to July and August to November) depending on weather conditions. Once sprayed, die-back will happen within 14 days, before the residue is removed through routine street cleaning activities.
As a resident, you can help us by removing weeds along your boundary walls and the footpaths outside your home.
How we use glyphosate
We strive to keep our pathways free from weeds and make sure they're accessible to all residents. To do this, we use a weed killer containing glyphosate, which is approved by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
The weed killer is used only by trained professionals and in a diluted form. Specialist equipment ensures that it is only applied directly to the weeds and not spread unnecessarily across pavements, tree pits or other plants.
Glyphosate is regulated approved herbicide, considered safe to use across the world and used by local authorities all over the country. The EU reapproved it for use for another 10 years in December 2023.
Moss
Significant moss growth happens in winter, although build-up can happen during any wet period or in shady, damp or wet areas. Herbicide treatments for moss have become less effective, more expensive and require repeat treatments. For this reason, we do not have the resources to treat moss in this way.