Council bosses are set to cut use of a weedkiller at the centre of a cancer lawsuit

Greenock gardener Stuart Graham's campaign to get his local authority bosses to ban the use of Roundup, which contains glyphosate, has attracted international attention.

Now he hopes he may persuade the local authority to go a step further as he continues his fight.

The shop steward highlighted his fears for fellow workers and the wider public in the Tele in April this year.

He wants the council to get rid of Roundup, which following compensation pay outs to cancer sufferers in the US.

He is challenging the council to make the Gourock Walled Gardens, which are set to be revamped, a weedkiller-free zone.

Stuart, who is a Unite health and safety rep and refuses to spray Roundup, said: "They are now talking to us, which is a positive step.

"It is going in the right direction but more needs to be done.

"We have more meetings planned and they are looking at how we operate in the use of Roundup.

"I would like to see the walled garden be turned into a weedkiller-free zone."

Teams of two are sent all over Inverclyde spraying weeds in open spaces, playparks and schools.

A contractor is also brought in to spray roads, using a tractor but changes are afoot following the pressure exerted during Stuart's campaign.

Stuart, 47, from Kirkwall Road, told the Tele: "They are looking at spraying twice a year instead of three times a year.

"They will also spray during school holidays and are looking at using more bark to suppress weeds.

"But I feel the small tractor going around spraying our pavements seriously needs looked at, as some times when they drive by you can smell and taste Roundup."

Campaigner Stuart has been raising the issue for a number of years and has won support from pressure groups around the globe.

He also launched a petition with UK Environment Secretary Michael Gove calling for an outright ban.

The Unite rep has been supported in his campaign by local councillor Colin Jackson and now plans to have a motion tabled with the local branch of the Labour Party to move for a ban.

At a recent meeting Inverclyde Council confirmed they looked at a number of measures including making sure no spraying is done during term time at any school or nursery.

They are also set to increase the size of the teams using weedkillers to cut the number of hours individual staff are using the product and plan to review and assess alternative chemicals and weed treatment methods.

An Inverclyde Council spokesman added: “Glyphosate, which is used in RoundUp, is licensed for use in the UK.

"However, we take the view that we need to reduce the amount of pesticides being used in Inverclyde and we are working with our trade union colleagues to develop a sustainable approach to spraying.

"We have reduced the quantity being sprayed by around 25 per cent in the last couple of years.

"We have also been holding regular meetings with trade union representatives to discuss, monitor and evaluate all the measures we can take to further cut back the use of pesticides.

"Our goal is to ensure that there is clear and open communication between all parties and a full understanding of the best way forward.

"Using bark or planting to suppress weeds is certainly one of the approaches we have discussed and will test out."