OSWESTRY’S mayor has called on her council colleagues to support a motion backing the end of use of certain weed killer ingredients.

At the full town council meeting on Wednesday, starting at 7pm at Oswestry Guildhall, Councillor Olly Rose has tabled the motion calling for the unitary authority to cease using glyphosate or neonictinoids.

And Cllr Rose, who represents the Green Party, also called on Oswestry Council to lead by example and not use the same on their own lands.

The motion states: “To ask Shropshire Council to stop the use of glyphosates and oppose any use by them of neonictinoids in Oswestry.

“Shropshire Council has no policy on glyphosate use or guidance on how to use at present.

“To make a policy of not using glyphosate or neonictinoids ourselves on our land, to include allotments.

“At present biodegradable weedkillers are used in our parks and although these may be a safer option, as research continues these may be found to be toxic.

“At present most research shows them as very low risk. But manual or non-chemical methods would be a safer choice.

“Therefore to investigate the cost of using foam stream methods as an alternative with manual removal of weeds being the optimum choice (and can also remove graffiti and gum).

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“And to make the exception for the necessary control of invasive plants such as Japanese knotweed (stem injection could be used rather than spray) or Giant Hogweed.”

Other items on the agenda for Wednesday include councillors being asked to confirm the new policy for recording meetings.

At June’s full town council meeting, cou8ncillors rejected a motion to film all meetings but did agree that audio recordings will be made and available via town clerk Arren Roberts through Teams.

The policy states: “The town council will audio record or broadcast meetings and can retain, use or dispose of such material in accordance with its retention and disposal policies.

“The council will be bound by this policy.”

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With regard to members of the public recording the meeting, the policy states: “The chairman will remind all members of the public in attendance of the meeting or a participant in the digital meeting that the act of recording is with permission of the council.

“In regard to agenda points when the public and press are excluded, no recording by the press or public will be permitted.

“The Chair will remind all members of the public and press that any recording of any meetings (either in full or part) will not be permitted to cause any disruption of any part of the council meeting.”