Call for Highland Council to enforce policy banning use of pesticides in school playgrounds which may cause cancer

A Highland MSP has asked Highland Council to take urgent action to enforce their policy banning the use of pesticides, including glyphosate, on school playgrounds.

Scottish Green MSP Ariane Burgess, Scottish Green MSP has written after to the local authority after reports that glyphosate, a chemical classified as a probable human carcinogen by the World Health Organisation, was used at Ullapool Primary School last year, sparking concerns from parents and the wider community.

Highland Council voted in 2019 to restrict the use of weedkillers containing glyphosate amid growing concerns that they may have carcinogenic properties, and after a spate of high-profile legal cases in the USA highlighted the chemical’s potential risks to people and wildlife such as bees.

The council’s change in policy barred them from being used on the likes of play parks and sports fields, in a bid to ensure public safety.

In her letter, Ms Burgess states that "exposure to such chemicals, especially in environments where our young ones spend a significant portion of their time, must be minimised to safeguard their health."

Commenting, Ariane Burgess said: "As an elected representative, it is my duty to prioritise the health and safety of my constituents, especially our most vulnerable members of society - our children. The potential risks associated with glyphosate are well documented, and we simply cannot allow our schools to be using such harmful substances.

"Highland Council has a clear policy in place banning the use of pesticides on school playgrounds. This policy must be robustly enforced to ensure no glyphosate or other dangerous chemicals are used this year or in the future. Our children's wellbeing must come first.

"I have written to the Council's Chief Executive urging him to take immediate action on this issue and provide assurances that no glyphosate will be used in our schools. I look forward to a prompt response and concrete steps being taken to address this unacceptable situation."

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