Angry residents have criticized their city council after it asked them to be ‘weed warriors’ and clear the streets, while blaming Brexit for their growth.
Brighton and Hove City Council have come under fire over the new scheme asking for volunteers to help tackle ‘unmanageable’ weed growth in problem areas.
The ‘Weed Warriors’ project – set to launch on March 17 – comes a year after the authority blamed Brexit for the growth of weed thanks to labor and equipment shortages.
But locals have resisted the idea of joining the council, with the authority recently agreeing to one of the UK’s highest council tax increases this year.
A resident said: ‘5% increase in council tax, and now you want us to do your work for you?…is this a joke?’
Brighton and Hove City Council to launch ‘Weed Warriors’ project later this month
Another said, ‘Is it April 1? You couldn’t make this up.’
Volunteers will be provided with tools and trained on how to ‘weed safely during an introductory session’ as part of efforts to make the area more ‘attractive’.
The demand for more aid is said to have stemmed from a “national shortage of manual workers,” which made it difficult to recruit people for street cleaning positions.
While the council’s “hard-working” Cityclean team weeds throughout the spring and summer, its “labour-intensive nature” could also cause some areas to become overgrown, it was said.
Councilor Elaine Hills, co-chair of the Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee, said: ‘We know how important avoiding pesticides for weed removal is for our residents, which is why our streets have been glyphosate-free since 2019.
‘We’ve had trouble recruiting for street cleaning positions in recent years and Cityclean are doing everything they can to get rid of weeds.
“The Weed Warrior scheme will help us keep up with the demand for manual weeding during the spring and summer months.
In addition to Weed Warrior community events, volunteers can also get involved by becoming a Weed Warrior in their area.
“We hope that the scheme offers residents the opportunity to gain new skills, become more active, move into the city and discover new places.
The authority blamed Brexit-induced labor and equipment shortages last year on their growth
“You also get the chance to meet new people who are all as passionate as you are about taking care of our beautiful city.”
The Green Party-led council stopped using the toxic herbicide glyphosate in 2019, which it said at the time would lead to more weeds.
To combat this, they invested in a small weed removal truck, recruited additional staff into their street cleaning team, and hired additional contractors.
Over the past 13 years, the government has cut the council’s annual funding by £110 million.
Councilor Steve Davis, co-chair of Brighton & Hove City Council’s Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee, also added: ‘There is a national shortage of manual workers. We have struggled to recruit for street cleaning positions in recent years and our Cityclean team are doing everything they can to get rid of weeds.”
Complaints about weeds have skyrocketed in recent years, with many photos of overgrown streets posted on social media.
But plans to recruit residents as “weed warrior” volunteers have caused further consternation.
One of them said, “You do realize that keeping your sidewalks and gutters free of weeds is your legal responsibility?”
Another said: ‘What an ap*** take! In addition to extortionate municipal taxes, do you want us to do the work for you that you have been neglecting for years!?
Councilor Elaine Hills, co-chair of the Environment, Transport and Sustainability committee (pictured), said the council was finding it difficult to recruit people for street cleaning positions
‘Let the CEO earn his salary….’
Another asked, “Unbelievable, what does our council tax pay for?”
Mr Davis continued: ‘Residents and community groups in some parts of the country – including Brighton & Hove – have already volunteered with their local councils to help remove weeds in their local areas.
‘In that respect, our weed warrior scheme is an extension of activities that are already taking place in the city.
“The scheme helps us keep up with the demand for manual weeding during the spring and summer months.”
Mr Davis added that the council hopes the scheme will give residents the chance to ‘acquire new skills, be more active and get out and about’.
He continued, “It’s also a chance to meet new people who are also passionate about looking after our beautiful city.
Our budgeting for 2023-24 also had to fill a budget shortfall of more than £14 million.
“This was fueled by demand for our services, very high inflation, the continued impact of the pandemic, the cost of living crisis and a real fall in government funding.
This is also the 14th year in a row that the council has had to deal with a real government cut in its budget, totaling more than £110 million since 2010.
“I can understand our council taxpayers being frustrated by such extreme government cuts.
“I invite anyone interested in learning more about volunteering as a weed warrior to visit our website at www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/weed-warriors.”
