Reading council is being pushed to stop using pesticides and switch to alternatives.
Staff use the liquid glyphosate to kill weeds and unwanted grass.
While weeds are not pests as such, the word pesticide is an umbrella term that covers herbicides (for weeds), insecticides (for insects), and fungicides (for fungi).
Councillor James Moore (Liberal Democrats, Tilehurst) is calling on Reading Borough Council to set out a formal plan to end its use of glyphosate weedkiller in public spaces — pointing to Lib Dem-run councils across the country that have already made the switch.
He said: “Residents are rightly asking why Reading is still routinely spraying glyphosate across public spaces when other councils have shown it doesn't have to be this way.
“Bath & North East Somerset — run by the Liberal Democrats — has permanently banned glyphosate from its streets.
Campaigners call for ban on use of herbicide glyphosate
“Kingston upon Thames has eliminated chemical weed control from its parks and playgrounds entirely.
“These are not small, well-funded councils doing something exotic — they are councils that made a clear decision and followed through on it.
“The Labour administration considered this issue in 2023 and agreed that any new weed control contract should require the contractor to work toward a glyphosate-free alternative. I want to know what that commitment has actually delivered — and whether the council is now ready to go further with a proper, published phase-out plan.”
The council ran a year-long trial of alternative weed control methods in 2022, testing pelargonic acid, steam, hand removal, and acetic acid against glyphosate in Northumberland Avenue, Rabson's Recreation Ground, and Cintra Park.
Council to trial weed killer alternatives amid calls to ban 'dangerous' substance
A report to the Housing, Neighbourhoods & Leisure Committee in July 2023 concluded that glyphosate remained the most cost-effective option, but committed to seeking alternatives through future contracts. No further public update has been provided since.
Almost half of UK councils are now taking some form of action to reduce or end pesticide use, according to Pesticide Action Network UK, which offers local authorities a free three-year phase-out framework that has been successfully adopted by councils across the country.
Cllr Moore added: “The cost difference between glyphosate and the alternatives is real, and I'm not going to pretend otherwise.
“But a phased plan — which is exactly what PAN UK offers for free — allows councils to make the transition sustainably.
“The question is whether Reading's Labour administration has the ambition to act, or whether residents will still be waiting for an answer in another two years' time.”
In response, a council spokesperson said: “The council minimises the use of glyphosate wherever possible and has reduced use from four to three applications per year.
“However, evidence from our own trials and the wider sector show it to be the only treatment that reliably kills the root system.
“Alternatives require far more labour, water and fuel, are less effective on established weeds, and carry higher costs and carbon impacts.
“We will continue to monitor the market and experience from other councils to see if any other weedkiller offers a better combination of effectiveness, practicality and value for money.”
What is liquid glyphosate and is it toxic?
Liquid glyphosate is a commonly used weedkiller sprayed on paths, parks, farms and gardens to kill unwanted plants. It is toxic if swallowed and can irritate or damage the skin and eyes, and people who are regularly exposed to the spray without proper protection can suffer nose, throat and breathing problems.
There is also ongoing concern about possible long‑term health effects. Some regulators say it is unlikely to cause cancer at normal exposure levels, but other scientific bodies and studies have linked long‑term or high exposure to increased cancer risk and other problems such as liver and metabolic disorders, which is why campaigners continue to call for tighter controls or bans.
Glyphosate remains legal for use in the UK, although a growing number of countries and cities overseas have either banned the weedkiller outright or restricted its use in public places such as parks and playgrounds because of concerns about possible risks to human health and wildlife.
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