If you’ve read our latest blog, you’ll be aware of Cornwall Council’s plans to re-introduce a harmful chemical, called glyphosate, back into Cornish communities as part of a county-wide initiative.
The chemical, which has links to cancer, birth defects, biodiversity loss and water pollution, is used to treat ‘weeds’ (wild plants) by roads (read all about it, here). The problem; it basically poisons the soil and water, it kills off bio-diversity and makes humans seriously ill.
Now, Penzance Town Council has been forced to accept the new initiative, after impossible new standards required by Cornwall Council left them unable to ‘opt out’ of the service. It means that, despite being a glyphosate-free community since 2019, Penzance will now be faced to stay in the new regime for the next year at least, while they plan to explore alternative options to ensure they are given the choice in the future.
Following the news and a full meeting on Monday night (13th April), Penzance Town Council passed the motion but is already pushing back on the county council’s decision, with plans to share its own resolutions with Cornwall Council, as follows:
1. This Council expresses its dismay and dissatisfaction with Cornwall Council’s decision to use herbicides across Cornwall in spite of the known negative consequences for the climate crisis, the environment and the health of local residents.
2. The Town Mayor and Town Clerk write to the Leader and the Chief Executive of Cornwall Council to express this Council’s disappointment at the lack of notice provided to town and parish councils, given the significant environmental and resource implications.
3. Written assurance be sought from Cornwall Council that this Council will be discharged from liability in the event of any legal claims brought as a result of chemical weed treatment undertaken due to any decision of Penzance Council not to ‘opt out’ of the proposed treatment programme.
4. In light of the recently–approved new posts within the Leisure and Amenities Service, an evaluation of the proposed reintroduction of weed treatment be undertaken to determine how it may impact upon officer capacity and workload and future service delivery.
5. Said evaluation assess any further impact(s) associated with the Council resolving to ‘opt out’ in future years.
You can read the full statement from Penzance Town Council, below.
While we’re pleased Penzance Town Council is going to be putting pressure on Cornwall Council about the decision (and have flagged what a backward step it is), there are still ways we can call for county-wide action.
We are now looking to work with other communities across Cornwall to put pressure on Cornwall Council to rethink this decision, due to the negative effect chemical spraying has on the environment and how it will impact future generations.
How? Here, we’ve listed what you can do to get involved:
Look out for any Cornwall-wide actions that you can take part in, like petitions and letter writing. Here is a link to the Green Party Cornwall wide petition
There is a meeting of Cornwall Climate Action Network on Thursday 16th April which will discuss how to contest Cornwall Council’s decision. Info here
Head to County Hall and join the meeting on 21st April where this will be discussed by Cornwall Councillors. If you can get to the meeting or register to speak (and want to), please do. Info here
Sign our petition which we can take to Cornwall Council to prove that as a community we don’t want glyphosate in our communities (thanks to everyone who has supported so far!).
Send this template letter to your Cornwall councillors. You can access your Cornwall Councillor here. However, key local and portfolio holders to include are:
Portfolio holder for Environment and Climate Change: Loic Rich
cllr.loic.rich@cornwall.gov.uk
Portfolio holder for Transport: Dan Rogerson
cllr.dan.rogerson@cornwall.gov.uk
Portfolio Holder for Community Safety & Public Health: Thalia Marrington
Mousehole, Newlyn & St Buryan
cllr.thalia.marrington@cornwall.gov.uk
Penzance East: Tim Dwelly
cllr.tim.dwelly@cornwall.gov.uk
Penzance Promenade: Jim McKenna
cllr.jim.mckenna@cornwall.gov.uk
Ludgvan, Madron, Gulval & Heamoor: Juliet Line
cllr.juliet.line@cornwall.gov.uk
Don’t forget to tell your friends, families and colleagues, too – the more voices shouting loud, the better!
For updates on this issue, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, where we’ll be sharing the latest petitions, events and news to help you take action, and help us protect our communities for future generations.
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Full Penzance Town Council statement, here:
“On 30 March 2026 all town and parish councils in Cornwall were notified that Cornwall Council will commence a programme of chemical weed treatment across Cornwall. Penzance Council was advised that ‘opting-out’ of this chemical weed treatment, which begins on 1st May, would only be possible based on very specific service requirements set by Cornwall Council, which would make Penzance Council’s own chemical-free weeding programme undeliverable.
Town and parish councils are required to set their budgets well in advance of the end of March. So, without the necessary resources, budget and licences required for Penzance Council to meet the opt out requirements at such short notice (14 working days!) , councillors at the Leisure and Amenities Committee meeting on Monday 13 April raised a number of points, including the following:
• The lack of notice provided by Cornwall Council prior to making this change was utterly disappointing and was an example of extremely poor partnership working.
• Given the declaration of a climate emergency by Cornwall Council and its supposed commitment to nature, the decision to reimpose chemical weed spraying was extremely disheartening given the adverse impacts which it would have upon the wider nature and biodiversity of the area, in addition to potential health consequences for residents.
• It was acknowledged that it would be impossible for Penzance Council to ‘opt out’ of the proposed weed treatment programme as it simply did not have the resources, nor the various licences required, to do so, and it could not undertake to make those commitments within a legally binding contract.
Penzance Council expresses its dismay and dissatisfaction with Cornwall Council’s decision to use herbicides across Cornwall in spite of the known negative consequences for the climate crisis, the environment and the health of local residents.
Mayor of Penzance, Stephen Reynolds, added: “Penzance Council was a pioneer in moving away from chemicals to manage street vegetation some years ago, so it’s hugely disappointing that Cornwall Council have unilaterally decided to resume chemical treatment at very short notice, effectively leaving us no scope to opt out. Residents can be assured though that Penzance Council’s current policy will continue to apply in our own parks, gardens and play areas.”
Penzance Council staff resource planned for this year’s weeding programme will now be directed towards improvements across our sites within the parish including the newly adopted Princess May Recreation Ground.
Penzance Council will monitor Cornwall Council’s weed treatment programme and evaluate the potential ability to ‘opt out’ in future years.”
