MPs, councillors, and campaigners are urging the Government to introduce a nationwide ban on pesticide and herbicide use in urban areas across England. The coalition, led by Pesticide Action Network (Pan UK) and the RSPB, argues that a top-down approach would enable local authorities to stop using hazardous chemicals on public land, roads, and pavements.
Launching the campaign in Westminster this week, the group plans to push for a Private Members' Bill in the next parliament, with a draft proposing a three-year phase-out. Campaigners say the move would boost biodiversity and health, warning that the UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries globally.
Pesticide use in urban areas accounts for about 10% of total UK usage, but it is the second most common route of human exposure after diet, according to Pan UK analysis. Exposure to common pesticides has been linked to cancer and harms urban wildlife such as birds, bees, and hedgehogs.
Nick Mole from Pan UK said: 'There's absolutely no reason or justification for using them in our towns and cities. By ending the use of pesticides in urban areas, we will reduce the exposure of potentially millions of UK citizens to harmful chemicals.' More than 100 local authorities have already reduced or eliminated pesticide use, following examples from France and Luxembourg.
However, some councils have rolled back efforts due to costs, complaints about tidiness, and accessibility concerns. Campaigners say a national ban would support councils in implementing alternatives. Green MP Caroline Lucas highlighted the risks of spraying glyphosate on streets where children play and dogs are walked, calling it 'an unnecessary addition to a cocktail of chemicals.'
