ALTERNATIVES to the controversial glyphosate weed killer are to be trialled next year by Scottish Borders Council, amid calls to ban the substance.

Earlier this year, campaigners tuned in to a meeting of Peebles Community Council, calling for the local authority to cease using the weed killer, following claims it had been linked to causing cancer.

This move is supported by Tweeddale councillors, who have been working with officers to find an alternative.

Next year, weedkiller will not be used in any public green spaces, and the council is keen to trial this in a built-up environment – with the Old Town being suggested as a possible site.

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The Pesticide Free Balerno campaign and the mass of public support, resulted in Edinburgh City Council agreeing to abstain from all weed control in 2020 and trial the herbicide-free weed control solution, Foamstream, this year.

This approach is something that is being looked into by SBC officers.

However, the community council has asked whether weeds will be controlled using an alternative method if glyphosate is banned.

Council leader Shona Haslam said that many residents would prefer to manage weeds themselves than have the chemical sprayed and have opted to do this in some communities.

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“We have asked officers to map out the town where they currently weed kill and what alternatives could be trialled in those areas,” she said.

Chairman Les Turnbull added: “I am concerned that by stopping using glyphosate there would be no weed control, but councillor Haslam has added some detail there, and I’m more than happy with trying different methods, I just wouldn’t want to see the weeds getting away with it, that was all.”

However, to keep the green spaces and streets pesticide-free and peaceful, councillor Haslam said a compromise needs to be reached. She explained: “Some people just see weeds as flowers in the wrong place, so we have two different camps here. We have one that doesn’t want to see any weeds anywhere and one that doesn’t mind weeds in certain places, and somehow we poor councillors have to find a way between those two very passionate groups of people.

“It’s not going to be easy, so we do needs these groups to come together and have a discussion about this, like where do you want it to look like cricket pitches and manicured lawns, and where can we trial these different ways of doing things. Compromise is going to be required on both sides of the argument, and the two sides are pretty set in their views.”

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Meanwhile, community councillor Scott Rae raised another concern.

He said: “The possibility of this being potentially outsourced to the community is a major concern I’ve got because we are not resourced to do that. Given the number of things that are being outsourced to the community, it’s starting to feel like we should have a district council or a town council managing all of this.”

Councillor Haslam said the local authority has to trial different schemes and that there isn’t going to be a “one size that fits all” for the whole of Peebles.

In May, community councillors were given assurance from the council that gyphosate is “licensed and safe”.