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By PHYLLIS STEPHENTHE CITY OF Edinburgh Council has
agreed to ban the use of glyphosate
based weedkillers in the city’s parks in
what is regarded as a first in Scotland.
All political parties on the council
were in broad agreement, with the
SNP group introducing a requirement
to brief community councils on their
involvement in any trial areas, the
Liberal Democrats keen that there will
be no reduction in weed control
during the move away from chemicals
and the Conservatives asking that the
council to continue to consider
effective alternatives to using
chemicals. The Green Group
introduced a requirement that the
process is assessed in a year’s time.
All councillors agreed that thereis a health and environmental risk
to the continued use of the weedkiller,
which will be used exceptionally
to control invasive weeds such as
Giant Hogweed.
Foamstream was trialled in Balerno
but council officers advised that it
would not be financially viable to
adopt this citywide.
Cllr Scott Arthur, Environment
Convener, said: “I am pleased that
there was broad consensus on the
committee to begin the phasing out
of glyphosate-based herbicides in
Edinburgh. As Scotland’s first local
authority to make such a
commitment this is an opportunity
to show leadership and set a
precedent for more sustainable,
safe management of weeds. I am
proud of the action we are taking,and hope others will follow us.
“There is substantial evidence
linking glyphosate to negative
impacts on our wildlife and
environment and this is something we
can’t ignore. We’re facing a biodiversity
crisis and the way we maintain
greenspaces must reflect that.
“I also know that many residents
will welcome this move as it was mean
their children and pets will be less
likely to encounter this toxic chemical.
“I appreciate the challenge weeds,
particularly along kerb lines, can pose
to pedestrians. We’ll initially continue
to use glyphosate to treat weeds on
roads and pavements, as well as to
tackle invasive species, and over the
coming years we’ll continue to
investigate alternative tools, to the
benefit of the city’s ecosystem.”Pesticide Free Balerno remain
disappointed and a spokesperson for
the group said: “In 2017 the EU only
narrowly voted to license glyphosate
again with a strong advisory that use
in public spaces should be minimised.
The council is well aware of this. It was
discussed by us in a deputation in- A ban by the council from 2024
- and that only in greenspaces - is just
embarrassing. It is highly insulting to
the public they claim to represent.
It is a diluted version of the very
minimum requirement for positive
change requested.
“Glyphosate should never have
been used there anyway but pesticide
applications still continue right
outside people’s homes, on the streets
and pavements in Edinburgh as well
as in playgrounds and parks.”
City’s long term
housing problem
Cairn for Margaret
Author and historian
putting right a
historical wrong
Council to phase out weedkillers in city parks
By SARAH BOYACK MSPOUR GROWING student population is now
20% of the city’s residents, who struggle
to find affordable accommodation.
As a city that thrives on tourism and
culture, Edinburgh’s economy depends on
it. But, we experience a massive shortage
of accommodation, particularly evident
during our summer festivals.
Since I was first elected, I have
witnessed the detrimental impact of the
uncontrolled expansion of short-term lets,
especially for people living in flats and
tenements. Communities have hollowed
out, issues like antisocial behaviour from
party flats have arisen, and residents have
been in the dark about who owns
short-term let properties, making it
difficult to carry out shared repairs.
When the Scottish Government agreed
to take action to empower local councils to
address the challenges posed by short-
term lets, I welcomed this move. There are
regions across the country where housing
shortages and tourism pressures demand
urgent action. However, the SNP’s
proposals fail to strike the right balance.
Firstly, they overlook the distinction
between short-term lets and the
traditional B&B sector, which is a crucial
part of our tourism industry, alongside
hotels. I have also raised concerns about
homeowners losing the flexibility to rent
out their homes or rooms during the
Festival without incurring additional costs.By PHYLLIS STEPHENAUTHOR SARA SHERIDAN and local
historian Andy Arthur are changing history.
They have persuaded Historic Environment
Scotland to rename a cairn in Holyrood Park
after the victim of a murder - rather than the
man who killed her. They continue to petition
Ordnance Survey to have the name changed in
the next edition of any maps of the area.
The cairn had been built near to the place
where Margaret Hall was murdered by her
husband, Nicol Muschet, in October 1720 and
became known as the Muschet Cairn. This
seemed wrong to both Sheridan and Arthur
who campaigned for it to be renamed in
honour of the victim for whom it had originally
been erected.
Andy Arthur said: “The crime was
premeditated and gruesome, and came after a
long campaign of violence against her. Mushet
hung for his crime, and his primary co-
conspirator was transported
The cairn has long been known as Muschet's
Cairn, the Ordnance Survey referring to Walter
Scott's inclusion of it in his "Heart of
Midlothian" novel as provenance. We’re also
hoping it will get a little bit of tic rather than
just be left as a forgotten pile of stones on the
edge of the park.
“The name therefore commemorates the
murderer, rather than the victim, as women did
not usually take their husband’s name in
Scotland at this time.
“Excepting the Catherine Sinclair Monument(St. Colme Street) and the statue of Queen
Victoria at the Kirkgate in Leith, it's one of the
few memorials to a named woman in central
Edinburgh.
"This country can be very good at dignified
public memorials when it chooses to be, but
this is not one of them. Margaret Hall may have
died in 1720 and even though so much has
changed since then, in many ways not a lot has."
Sara and Andy are hopeful that interpretation
materials (sign, information board and park
leaflets) will cover some of these points and
highlight the history of the cairn.
Sara Sheridan said it was “a basic injustice in
commemorating Margaret Hall’s memory”. She
continued: “It’s so important to remember our
history with a diverse eye - the voices and
concerns of minorities are too easily lost.’The author has spoken out about the lack of
commemorative statues for women in the
capital. She backed a campaign by one of the
prospective sculptors which sprung up after a
fundraising effort to put up a statue for Elsie
Inglis was derailed.
Historic Environment Scotland said: “We
routinely review and update Canmore records
with additional information, which is the online
record of Scotland’s historic environment
compiled and managed by HES.
“We were approached by a member of the
public to update the record for the cairn in
Holyrood Park.
“We are also in early discussions to explore
new interpretations at the site to provide more
information and a fuller understanding of the
history of the site.”