Opt Out Scheme For Weeds

Description of the scheme on the Council's website.

Following on from ROUND HILL CONSERVATION AREA WILL NOT BE SPRAYED WITH GLYPHOSATE [Round Hill Reporter Autumn 2024], in 2025 the council will be commencing a formal scheme for people who want to opt out of having weedkiller used in their street.

However, residents wanting to opt out will have to weed the street themselves three times a year to keep pavements clear and safe.

Applications for streets to opt out of glyphosate use can be made through the council’s website and must be submitted before Friday 21 March 2025.

To be considered for the opt-out, roads must be within existing 20mph zones and have up to approximately* 100 houses.

Any opt-out will need a lead volunteer, who will be given appropriate training and access to the relevant tools. They will also be expected to co-ordinate local volunteers.

See also our page on Community clean-ups of which The Round Hill Society has a long tradition. *Note that both Richmond Road and Roundhill Crescent have slightly more than 100 houses, though the bollards divide Richmond Road into two manageable sections. Both ends have good community presence.

Not just weeds

There is potential conflict in relation to the removal of wall plants, though Brighton and Hove City Council's priority appears to be to keep pavements clear and safe.

Round Hill residents have been identifying plants growing on pavements and alongside walls to confer positive value on them. Many are beneficial to wildlife (e.g. bees and other insects).

Not just weeds [The Guardian, Friday 1st May 2020] - Pavement chalking to draw attention to wild flowers and plants in urban areas. One survey of pavements in Sheffield found 183 different plants, another in Cambridge found 186 species on walls. A patch of nettles can be swamped with caterpillars. And bird’s-foot-trefoil, a not uncommon urban verge plant, is a food plant for more than 160 different invertebrates.

This page was last updated by Ted on 09-Apr-2025