Weed control in Hyndburn

The weed spraying contractor has commenced work in the Borough this week, starting in the Baxenden area and working North up through the Borough. This will take approximately 4 or 5 weeks to complete and the following information may be of interest to residents:

• Hyndburn Borough Council manage this service on behalf of LCC
• We are using the most environmentally friendly product known - Roundup ProBiactive 450
• Under legislation we are not permitted to use ‘residual’ chemicals (i.e. where the chemical sits on the surface and kills any growth that comes up later). The only chemical we are permitted to use is ‘contact’ chemical (i.e. if there is growth around when they are spraying then it will be killed but new growth can come up a couple of days later it will not).
• Under legislation we are not permitted to ‘blanket’ spray areas, we can only spray actual growth (i.e. this will look like the contractor is randomly spraying but actually he is just hitting areas of growth). As this is a ‘contact’ chemical this is also more cost effective as areas with no growth are not being sprayed.
• Under legislation we are not permitted to spray around open watercourses, which includes road gullies. If weeds are growing out they will be left until LCC clear the gully.
• Although the chemical is fast drying (about 1 hour), the contractor cannot spray when it is raining, or about to start raining and also will not spray in windy conditions, for obvious reasons.

If anyone has any further queries, please contact your local Labour Councillor.