Use of chemical herbicides along roads

Summary

A request was made regarding the Department of Infrastructure's use of chemical herbicides on private roadside verges without consent, specifically concerning safety and policy. The authority disclosed that private land spraying is unintentional, identified Glyphosate as the chemical used, and provided details on authorization, training, costs, and the lack of public notification.

Key Facts

• The Department of Infrastructure does not intentionally spray private land as part of scheduled work.
• Glyphosate sourced from Nomix Enviro is the chemical used for roadside treatment.
• Applications are authorized by the Operative Site Works Manager and carried out by DOI operatives with City and Guilds qualifications.
• Treatment occurs up to three times a year on main arterial routes, the TT course, and the Southern 100 course.
• The public is not informed when herbicide applications are being carried out.

Data Disclosed

• 2025-04-16
• 2025-05-21
• 12th March
• 3rd May
• £6,000
• £8,339.94
• 4599081

Original Request

The DOI has recently used a chemical herbicide along a stretch of roadside verge that I own, without my permission or knowledge, right next to where I have beehives, where my children play, where my dog walk, where I have new born lambs and over a roadside drain which discharges directly into a stream. It would appear that all primary roads on the Island have had this treatment on the privately-owned roadside verges. a) Under which piece of legislation did the DOI use dangerous chemicals on private land without landowner consent? b) What chemical was used? c) Who within the DOI authorised its use? d) Who undertook the application? e) What relevant training and qualification(s) had the applicator(s) undertaken/hold? f) When was the application undertaken? g) Which roadside verges have had this treatment? h) Why was this treatment considered necessary when the DOI have never done it previously? i) What is the DOI's written policy on herbicide use along roads and has this changed? j) What was the cost of this application? k) How much did the DOI spend on chemical herbicides in the last full financial year? l) How was the public informed about this chemical treatment?

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Department of Infrastructure Sea Terminal Building, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 2RF

Contact: FOI Response Team Telephone: (01624) 686785 Email: dpo-doi@gov.im

Our ref: 4599081 20 May 2025

Dear ###

We write further to your request, received 16 April 2025, which states:

"The DOI has recently used a chemical herbicide along a stretch of roadside verge that I own, without my permission or knowledge, right next to where I have beehives, where my children play, where my dog walk, where I have new born lambs and over a roadside drain which discharges directly into a stream. It would appear that all primary roads on the Island have had this treatment on the privately-owned roadside verges.

a) Under which piece of legislation did the DOI use dangerous chemicals on private land without landowner consent?

b) What chemical was used?

c) Who within the DOI authorised its use?

d) Who undertook the application?

e) What relevant training and qualification(s) had the applicator(s) undertaken/hold?

f) When was the application undertaken?

g) Which roadside verges have had this treatment?

h) Why was this treatment considered necessary when the DOI have never done it previously?

i) What is the DOI's written policy on herbicide use along roads and has this changed?

j) What was the cost of this application?

k) How much did the DOI spend on chemical herbicides in the last full financial year?

l) How was the public informed about this chemical treatment?"

Our response to your request is as follows: I have detailed below the information that is being released to you.

a) The Department do not spray private land as part of the scheduled work. If this occurs it is not intentional and not programmed work. b) The Department use Glyphosate sourced from a company called Nomix Enviro. c) The use of the product was authorised by the Operative Site Works Manager. d) The application of the product is carried out by Department of Infrastructure operatives. e) The operatives hold a City and Guilds qualification. f) First application of the product this year was undertaken between 12th March and 3rd May. g) The Department treat the main arterial routes, TT course and Southern 100 course. h) The Department treat these areas up to three times a year, depending on weed growth. i) The Department does not have a written policy but uses guidelines for purchase and storage of the product. j) The estimate cost per product treatment is £6,000. k) The Department spent £8,339.94 on herbicide products in the last financial year. l) The public are not informed when application of the product is being carried out.

Please quote the reference number 4599081 in any future communications.

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I will now close your request as of this date.