Actions requested of Bristol City Council - letter to remove a street/area from the glyphosate weed-spraying schedule

Sep 1, 2026

Request letter to Bristol City Council asking for an amendment to its glyphosate weed-spraying schedule following a resident ballot eliminating glyphosate-based treatments on the carriageway and footways for a specified street or area. The letter requests immediate removal from the weed-spraying rota, written confirmation that the change is logged and shared with staff and contractors, and records community commitment to ongoing manual weeding, disposal, and coordination with Council waste management and highways teams, including safety and contingency provisions.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLetters

FormatDOCX

Pages3

Reading Time1 min

AccessFree to download

Actions requested of Bristol City Council

Commitments made by the community

Procedure if the volunteer changes or resigns

Council monitoring and discretionary powers

Safety arrangements for community weeding sessions

Dear Request to remove [Street / Area] from the Council’s Glyphosate Weed-Spraying Schedule Following a recent ballot of residents, a majority voted to eliminate glyphosate-based weed treatments on the carriageway and footways of [Street / Area]. We therefore ask the Council to amend its schedule and notify all staff and contractors accordingly. This letter also records our community’s commitment to manage weeds manually. Actions requested of Bristol City Council Remove [Street / Area] from the current weed-spraying rota with immediate effect. Confirm in writing that the change has been logged and circulated to all relevant departments and service providers. Commitments made by the community Ongoing manual weeding: A named community volunteer (currently [Name]) will organise regular weed-removal sessions to keep footways and the highway clear and to protect the road surface. The volunteer will set the frequency of sessions, recruit helpers, and arrange for lawful disposal of arisings. Liaison with the Council: the volunteer will act as the principal point of contact for Waste Management and Highways. Procedure if the volunteer changes or resigns The outgoing volunteer will inform the local ward councillor and the Street Scene Team ( HYPERLINK "mailto:streetscene@bristol.gov.uk" streetscene@bristol.gov.uk). A successor will notify the Council in writing of their appointment. If no successor comes forward, the Council may reinstate the road on the city-wide weed-spraying schedule, including the use of glyphosate if that remains standard practice. Council monitoring and discretionary powers We accept that the Council will inspect weed growth. If weeds cause obstruction or highway damage, the Council may restore chemical treatment without prejudice to its statutory duties. We will report any occurrence of Fallopia japonica (Japanese knotweed) immediately. Safety arrangements for community weeding sessions Before each session the coordinating volunteer will: Conduct a risk assessment and brief all participants. Ensure the use of appropriate tools, substances and PPE (e.g. gloves, high-visibility vests). Share information on harmful or invasive plants and the correct disposal routes. Provide suitable instruction, supervision and, where relevant, training. Ensure at least one trained first aider is present. During the session volunteers will: Allow pedestrians unrestricted passage at all times. Work on the carriageway only when it is free of traffic. Consult the Council in advance if traffic-management measures (cones, signage, temporary closures) are required. We trust these arrangements are clear and look forward to written confirmation that [Street / Area] has been removed from the glyphosate schedule. Yours faithfully, Name: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Signature: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Date: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

FAQs

What change does the letter ask Bristol City Council to make to the glyphosate schedule?

The letter asks the Council to remove the specified street/area from the current weed-spraying rota with immediate effect and to amend the schedule accordingly.

What community commitments are stated in the letter?

A named volunteer will organise regular manual weeding sessions, set session frequency, recruit helpers, arrange lawful disposal of arisings, and act as the main liaison with the Council for waste management and highways.

What happens if the community volunteer changes or resigns?

The outgoing volunteer must inform the local ward councillor and the Street Scene Team, and a successor must notify the Council in writing; otherwise the Council may reinstate chemical treatment on the city-wide schedule.

Sep 1, 2026

Upload by Quinn Holloway