Glyphosate to Be Sprayed Across Chiswick This Month
Residents should remove weeds if they want their road excluded
Manual removal of weeds has proven to be less effective. Picture: Hounslow Highways
August 5, 2025
Hounslow Highways has confirmed the schedule for reintroduction of glyphosate-based weed treatments across the borough, with Chiswick due to be one of the final areas to be sprayed. The programme, authorised by the Council on 1 July, marks a shift back to chemical treatment after several years of manual weed removal, which proved less effective.
Spraying in Chiswick Gunnersbury ward is set to begin on 20 August, followed by Chiswick Homefields and Chiswick Riverside wards from 26 August. Residents concerned about glyphosate use are advised to remove weeds outside their homes before these dates. Streets without visible weed growth will not be treated, meaning proactive weeding offers the only way to avoid chemical application.
The programme includes two spray cycles, each lasting 8–10 weeks. The second cycle is expected to begin in September, although exact dates have not yet been published. After each cycle, inspections will identify the top 20 roads per ward—based on weed volume and obstruction—for targeted clearance by dedicated teams. These teams will spend four days in each ward removing weeds that were not fully eradicated by the spray.
The schedule for spraying of glyphosate across the borough. Picture: Hounslow Highways
While residents who are concerned about the environmental impact of the chemical cannot formally opt out of the programme, Hounslow Highways confirms that no spraying will occur where weeds are absent. There is no requirement to notify the council or provide evidence of weed removal; crews will simply skip weed-free areas during their scheduled visits.
On the other hand, residents are reminded that spraying may not be possible if parked vehicles are causing an obstruction.
The decision to reintroduce glyphosate follows concerns over road and footpath safety, infrastructure damage, and the limited success of manual methods. The treatment will be applied to hard surfaces such as pavements, roads, and footpaths, and in some cases to grassed areas and shrub beds. Weather conditions will play a role in the effectiveness of the spray, with high temperatures and rain potentially reducing its impact.
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