Pilot to be considered that will help shape the future of weed management across the region, building on significant reductions already made in the use of glyphosate.
A report to be considered at Council on 21 May outlines the Council's weed management approach, the background and legal context for glyphosate use, and proposals for a pilot during the 2026 growing season. The pilot would provide local evidence on how chemical-free and chemically managed methods compare in practice, helping inform future decisions.
The lastest report to Full Council can be found within the meeting agenda.
Current Weed Management Programme
Glyphosate is currently used as part of an integrated weed management programme to help keep public footways, hard surfaces and other spaces safe, accessible and well maintained. Weed control also supports the Council’s duties in relation to public access, infrastructure maintenance, cleanliness standards, invasive species management and biodiversity.
The report highlights that glyphosate remains strictly regulated and is still approved for use in Great Britain while the Health and Safety Executive completes a renewal assessment. The Council recognises that there is strong public interest in this issue and that views vary, with some residents calling for less chemical use and others raising concerns about visible weed growth in public spaces.
Significant steps to reduce the use of glyphosate have already been taken by the Council, with a 43% reduction in litres of glyphosate used, alongside a 79% reduction in operational coverage, with activity now focused mainly on primary access routes and town centres. Since 2019, routine treatment has been reduced from two applications annually to one, and further changes since 2022 have continued to reduce use within the Parks & Environment Service.
The proposed pilot would run from April to October 2026 and compare two similar sites in the Galashiels and District area. Under the proposal, Melrose Road would be managed using chemical-free methods such as hand removal and mechanical strimming, while Abbotsford Road – Ladhope Vale would continue to be managed using the current glyphosate-based approach.
The condition of both sites will be monitored along with, resource requirements, customer enquiries and overall effectiveness of the method before reporting findings back to Council.
The pilot is intended to provide a practical and evidence-led way of assessing what further reductions in glyphosate use might mean in operational, environmental and financial terms. Whilst there are a range of alternative methods, many non-chemical approaches are currently more labour-intensive, less durable and more difficult to scale across the whole region. The pilot will help test those issues locally and support informed future decision-making.
Councillor John Greenwood, Executive Member for Roads and Public Space
“This pilot is about making sure Scottish Borders Council takes an evidence-led approach to weed management. We know there is strong public interest in reducing the use of chemicals where possible, and we have already made significant reductions in glyphosate use across the Borders.
“The next step is to test, in a fair and controlled way, how alternative methods perform in practice and what that means for safety, accessibility, biodiversity, resources and long-term sustainability.”
The pilot will give the Council local evidence to help shape future decisions, ensuring it achieves an appropriate balance between environmental responsibility and its duty to keep public spaces safe and accessible. If approved, the pilot will be delivered within existing budgets, with findings brought back to Council in a future evaluation report.