Merton Lib Dems demand glyphosate-free parks by 2028

Merton Lib Dems demand glyphosate-free parks by 2028 

Merton Liberal Democrats are calling for an end to the routine use of glyphosate-based herbicides in the borough's parks and open spaces by March 2028, saying the Council must go further and faster to protect nature and public health.

The use of glyphosate has come under increasing scrutiny, with concerns raised internationally about its impacts on biodiversity and potential health risks. 

Although Merton Council has committed to ending routine glyphosate use by 2030 under its new parks contract, Liberal Democrats say that timetable is too slow. 

While councils across London are reducing their reliance on glyphosate-based herbicides, Merton recorded the second highest herbicide use of any London borough in 2024. Merton and its contractors used more than 3,300 kilograms of herbicides that year. 

Liberal Democrat councillors believe local residents and wildlife deserve better.

Their proposal on 15 July 2026 called on the Council to work with experts, Friends groups and local communities to introduce effective, nature-friendly alternatives, including manual, mechanical and other sustainable weed management methods. They point to neighbouring Liberal Democrat-run Kingston upon Thames, which has already ended the routine use of glyphosate-based weedkillers in parks. 

Commenting, Cllr Anthony Fairclough, Leader of Merton Liberal Democrats, said: 

"Instead of building on the momentum of a glyphosate-free trial championed by Liberal Democrats - carried out locally in 2023 - Labour Council bosses have simply returned to business as usual.

“The result is that Merton now sits at the wrong end of London's herbicide league table, when we should be leading the way. 

“The Deputy Leader of the Council's seemed to imply they were blocking this proposal simply because it was proposed by another party, rather than engaging with what could be done. I think people will be shocked if they watch the debate online.

"Ending the routine use of glyphosate-based herbicides in Merton's parks and open spaces within two years is both achievable and urgent. By working with residents, Friends groups and environmental experts, we can reduce reliance on chemical weedkillers while protecting biodiversity and maintaining the high-quality parks our communities value. 

"Residents want greener parks, thriving wildlife and practical alternatives to routine chemical spraying. That's exactly what our proposal would deliver”.