THE mayor of Newquay has accused Cornwall Council cabinet of “putting a gun to the head” of town and parish councils over its plans to reintroduce weed treatment in the public realm.

Councillor Drew Creek alleges the unitary authority is being “threatening” and “coercive” after stating it would stop undertaking “enhanced environmental maintenance” including the wider pathways and verges if they decide against a proposal to use diluted glyphosate mix on roadside weeds.

He believes the money Cornwall Council is offering in return to deal with weed treatment if councils do opt out would not cover the cost.

He claims Cornwall Council would be going against its motion of 10 years ago to not use glyphosate if it goes through with the plan “without scrutiny” following concerns the chemical harms human health as well as bees and pollinators.

The Cornwall councillor for Trenance plans to bring a motion to Cornwall Council calling on the Cabinet to pause its proposal and undertake “proper” public consultation.

Newquay Town Council is earmarked to discuss Cornwall Council’s weed treatment plan at an extraordinary environment and facilities meeting on Thursday night.

Town councillors are due to push back against Cornwall Council’s proposal to give town and parish councils time to explore alternative solutions with the unitary authority.

Cllr Creek said: “If the town council does decide to opt out if could receive £343 a kilometre for weed treatment from Cornwall Council, which would be £20,000 a year for Newquay.

“But they say if we do opt out of the management of vegetation on the road network, we will also lose the ability of Cornwall Council and Cormac managing our verges so it’s a coercive opt out.

“They are holding a gun to town and parish council’s heads. Glyphosate is harmful to human health. Their own reports say that.

“The half-life of glyphosate on land is a day to two days, but it will end up in drains and the marine environment where its half-life is almost a year.

“The Lib Dem Cornwall Council administration is getting irate about South West Water pumping sewage into the sea but are quite happy to let carcinogenic chemicals into the sea.

“Obviously we all know roadside weeds need to be managed however the use of harmful chemicals should not be implemented.

“There are other options that Cornwall Council is not exploring with town and parish councils.

“Also, the Cornwall Council administration sneaked this proposal through during Easter at a time when town and parish councils do not hold meetings and after they have set their budgets for the year.

“Interestingly there is an early day motion in parliament by MP Sian Berry looking to ban glyphosate use by local authorities which has been given support by two Cornish Lib Dem MPs all while this administration ploughs ahead spraying this harmful chemical.

“My motion will ask for a pause to the plan, think again, stage a public consultation and decouple the road weed control from the wider public realm verge management and work with councils to proactively manage the situation.”

Cornwall Council stated: “Town and parish councils can opt out of our treatment programme but opting out also means opting out of the proposed spot mechanical clearance and enhanced environmental maintenance.”

Cornwall Council has been approached for comment.