A PLAN to ban all pesticides has not been well thought through, according to one resident

Peter Challis described Brighton and Hove City Council’s message to ban weedkillers by 2022 as a “blanket statement”.

“The council doesn’t seem to have any reasonable alternative,” he said.

“I am completely supportive of protecting wildlife but I don’t understand why we can’t keep using pesticides in gutters and on pavements.

“I am worried we have no practical alternative to keep pavements safe, or for pests such as rats and wasp infestations.”

The retired 63-year-old from Portslade said pavements are riddled with weeds, adding: “It’s a hazard for people walking, especially the elderly.”

The council has recently employed a new team of eight weed pickers to manually pull the weeds as an alternative to using chemicals such as Glyphosate, the active ingredient in weed killers, to prevent health risks.

But Mr Challis said there is no definite proof that Glyphosate causes illnesses such as cancer, which is widely believed.

He said: “The council obviously has the money to employ these people but I think it could go to better use such as cleaning up our rubbish because we know the pesticides work.

“I am not saying keep using them in areas where there is lots of wildlife but near the roads it should be fine.”

In an email to Mr Challis, seen by The Argus, a spokeswoman from the council said: “A main source of our drinking water is from underground aquifers and there are concerns that the amount of Glyphosate that we have been using in the city could lead to contamination of our water supply.”

But Mr Challis said a report done by Southern Water last year showed the level of Glyphosate in the water was so low it did not breach water quality.

A council spokeswoman said: “We are currently seeking ways to minimise the use of Glyphosate by researching alternative weed treatments including

pesticide-free approaches. We hope to have a decision in the next few weeks after which time the treatment across the city will commence.”

Glyphosate became infamous after groundsman Dewayne Johnson from California sued chemical giant Monsanto after he was diagnosed with cancer, which he believed to be linked to working with the chemical.

A spokesman from Southern Water said it was working with farmers along the South Downs to protect water in the aquifers, which includes minimising the use of nutrient fertilisers. It did not comment on the presence of Glyphosate in the water.