A political war of words has broken out in Newquay over the amount of weeds growing in the town’s streets. Conservative councillor Louis Gardner has accused Newquay’s Green Party members of putting personal ideology before the people of the town.
However, one of those councillors – Mayor of Newquay Drew Creek – has criticised the Conservatives’ austerity cuts and says many people in the town have welcomed the decision not to use “dangerous” weedkiller.
The town council spat started after Cllr Gardner, who is also Cornwall Council’s portfolio holder for the economy, had a rant on Facebook. Posting a number of photographs showing a proliferation of weeds growing in roadside kerbs across the town, he said: “Have you seen the weeds in Newquay? Do you think there’s more than usual this year? That’s because there is. Absolutely no weed control has taken place in almost a year
“In Cornwall, weed control in residential areas is the responsibility of town and parish councils, NOT Cornwall Council. For over 10 years Newquay Town Council has had the responsibility of managing kerbside weeds in Newquay and this year put your council tax precept up by 27 per cent to cover this and other projects.
[7].jpeg?width=209&height=140&crop=209:145,smart&quality=75)
“This year, a small number of town councillors have forced through a new policy to reduce weed control by 90 per cent.”
He added: “So where will weeds be removed? For some reason they have chosen ONLY outside schools and doctors surgeries. Why? I have no idea. They have not only banned ALL kinds of weed killer but also turned down every alternative contractor and every alternative method of weed control that has come forward so nothing has been done.
“Has the whole council voted for this? NO, only four councillors, mostly from the Green Party have forced this through and the rest of the council have had no say. I have voted against this every single time.” Cllr Gardner, who represents Porth and Tretherras ward, named them as Mayor Drew Creek, Deputy Mayor Margaret North, Katie Larsen and Steve Slade
“And this is after they voted to put your council tax precept up by 27 per cent. Personal ideology before the people of Newquay. They have let down our town,” he said.
Alluding to his fellow town councillor’s party politics, Cllr Creek responded: “Our enemy here is not nature!”
The mayor said: “Conservatives such as Mr Gardner are responsible for the austerity cuts to local services in Newquay such as maintenance of grass verges and road networks. It is and has always been the case that roads, paths and verges are Cornwall Council’s to manage.
“It is true that many year ago Cornwall Council forced, with no finances for town and parish authorities, those councils to take over preventative spraying of Glyphosate, recognised as devastating to biodiversity, but more importantly dangerous by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to us as residents particularly those are pregnant, children and our beloved pets.
“Cornwall Council themselves don’t use Glyphosate and instruct their direct contractors not to. Interestingly, Cornwall Council manually weed central Newquay but leave the rest of our great town to become an eyesore.”
The councillor for Central and Pentire ward added: “I don’t want children playing around in poison, I’m sure most wouldn’t. Several councillors at Newquay Town Council agreed and wish to protect the public from this harmful chemical. We have been extremely pleased with the overwhelming support to this and I have had more emails as mayor about this positive step than anything else.
“The public in Newquay I speak to are saying they have seen a dramatic increase in insect and insectivore activity this season as a result of us not spraying this awful chemical around town. If Mr Gardner had bothered to hang around in the meeting he would know we have committed plans to clear vegetation from the roadside this year.”