Latest news with #AlastairChambers
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
'Urban greening strategy' to phase out weed killer
A strategy to increase greenery in a bid to tackle climate change is set to be approved amid plans to phase out use of a controversial weed killer. As part of the Gloucester Urban Greening Strategy Gloucester City Council wants to plant more greenery to address the threat of climate change and extreme weather. Its cabinet will consider the strategy this week as it prepares to phase out the weed killer glyphosate, which can harm insect populations and biodiversity. The council hopes to harness the natural benefits of trees, green roofs, hedgerows, and green screens to help tackle climate change. More news stories for Gloucestershire Listen to the latest news for Gloucestershire Glyphosate is used in very small quantities across Gloucester and, if eaten in large amounts, can have health impacts on small mammals and pets, reports the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Councillors may also decide to stop spraying the city centre where weeds are usually kept to a minimum due to high footfall. Feedback from residents will be considered and the move will be kept under review. However, the weed killer will still be used to manage obstructive growth or treat invasive and dangerous species, including Japanese knotweed. The strategy will also consider the introduction of rainwater gardens to collect excess surface water and reduce pressure on sewers during high rainfall. At a recent meeting, Alastair Chambers, Independent councillor, criticised the use of the "cancer-linked" weed killer. "This chemical, glyphosate, has been banned or heavily restricted in over 30 countries, including France, Germany and Austria," he said. "Yet here in Gloucester, the administration persists in spraying it on our streets and green spaces, ignoring mounting scientific concerns and international precedent." Sebastian Field, Liberal Democrat councillor, said his group is committed to phasing the chemical out. He said: "By reducing its use alongside our plans to increase the amount of green space in our city, we will do our bit to try to reduce the alarming decline in insect populations." Follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Plans for shop signs to reflect city's 'heritage' Climbing zone at shopping centre gets go-ahead Gloucester City Council
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
'Urban greening strategy' to phase out weed killer
A strategy to increase greenery in a bid to tackle climate change is set to be approved amid plans to phase out use of a controversial weed killer. As part of the Gloucester Urban Greening Strategy Gloucester City Council wants to plant more greenery to address the threat of climate change and extreme weather. Its cabinet will consider the strategy this week as it prepares to phase out the weed killer glyphosate, which can harm insect populations and biodiversity. The council hopes to harness the natural benefits of trees, green roofs, hedgerows, and green screens to help tackle climate change. More news stories for Gloucestershire Listen to the latest news for Gloucestershire Glyphosate is used in very small quantities across Gloucester and, if eaten in large amounts, can have health impacts on small mammals and pets, reports the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Councillors may also decide to stop spraying the city centre where weeds are usually kept to a minimum due to high footfall. Feedback from residents will be considered and the move will be kept under review. However, the weed killer will still be used to manage obstructive growth or treat invasive and dangerous species, including Japanese knotweed. The strategy will also consider the introduction of rainwater gardens to collect excess surface water and reduce pressure on sewers during high rainfall. At a recent meeting, Alastair Chambers, Independent councillor, criticised the use of the "cancer-linked" weed killer. "This chemical, glyphosate, has been banned or heavily restricted in over 30 countries, including France, Germany and Austria," he said. "Yet here in Gloucester, the administration persists in spraying it on our streets and green spaces, ignoring mounting scientific concerns and international precedent." Sebastian Field, Liberal Democrat councillor, said his group is committed to phasing the chemical out. He said: "By reducing its use alongside our plans to increase the amount of green space in our city, we will do our bit to try to reduce the alarming decline in insect populations." Follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Plans for shop signs to reflect city's 'heritage' Climbing zone at shopping centre gets go-ahead Gloucester City Council
BBC News
14 hours ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Gloucester 'urban greening strategy' to phase out weed killer use
A strategy to increase greenery in a bid to tackle climate change is set to be approved amid plans to phase out use of a controversial weed part of the Gloucester Urban Greening Strategy Gloucester City Council wants to plant more greenery to address the threat of climate change and extreme cabinet will consider the strategy this week as it prepares to phase out the weed killer glyphosate, which can harm insect populations and council hopes to harness the natural benefits of trees, green roofs, hedgerows, and green screens to help tackle climate change. Glyphosate is used in very small quantities across Gloucester and, if eaten in large amounts, can have health impacts on small mammals and pets, reports the Local Democracy Reporting may also decide to stop spraying the city centre where weeds are usually kept to a minimum due to high from residents will be considered and the move will be kept under the weed killer will still be used to manage obstructive growth or treat invasive and dangerous species, including Japanese knotweed. The strategy will also consider the introduction of rainwater gardens to collect excess surface water and reduce pressure on sewers during high a recent meeting, Alastair Chambers, Independent councillor, criticised the use of the "cancer-linked" weed killer."This chemical, glyphosate, has been banned or heavily restricted in over 30 countries, including France, Germany and Austria," he said."Yet here in Gloucester, the administration persists in spraying it on our streets and green spaces, ignoring mounting scientific concerns and international precedent."Sebastian Field, Liberal Democrat councillor, said his group is committed to phasing the chemical said: "By reducing its use alongside our plans to increase the amount of green space in our city, we will do our bit to try to reduce the alarming decline in insect populations."
BBC News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
'Crazy' - Derbyshire runs fifth-best British time
Great Britain's Seamus Derbyshire said becoming the fifth-fastest British man ever to run the 400m hurdles is "mind-boggling".The 25-year-old clocked 48.47 seconds at a meeting in Prague on Monday to not only smash his personal best but also make the qualification standard for the World Championships in Tokyo later this Akabusi set the British record of 47.82 set at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992."It was point eight of a second quicker than I've ever run before, which you don't get to be like that very often," Derbyshire said."So I knew it was good, but it was crazy and I was in shock. I couldn't comprehend it in the moment." 'I'd never believe it in a million years' Commonwealth Games 400m hurdles bronze medallist Alastair Chambers, Joshua Fauldes, a bronze medallist, along with Chambers, in the 4x400m mixed relay at the European Indoor Championships in February, and European U20 4x400m relay champion Jake Minshull have all run sub-49 seconds this year, with Derbyshire now top of the list. The City of Stoke Athletics Club member, and silver medallist at the European Under-20 Championships in 2019, also moved past Chambers in the all-time British list."The event is in such a strong place in the UK at the moment," Derbyshire told BBC Radio Stoke. "So that, as a stat, is mind-boggling."I started athletics 11 years ago and if you'd told me then this is how good I could potentially be I would never ever believe it in a million years. "It's like living the dream."Only Chris Rawlinson, David Hemery, David Greene and Akabusi have run faster than Derbyshire , externalwho is open-minded about how close he can get to the British record."I'm making my way up and I've jumped from 29th to 5th and it's a huge leap in one race," Derbyshire said."My training has been different to what I've done before and that has kept me quite fresh. "Everything I was doing was suggesting I was getting quicker and stronger. It's the first year with a new coach and training set-up, so who knows?" 'This is your line in the sand' Derbyshire's performance in the Czech Republic came after he effectively had a year out of the sport in 2024 to have a break from "all the pressure and stress of competing".He came fifth in the 400m at the UK Championships in February and was part of Team GB's 4x400m relay squad at the European Indoors in March."Our main aim was getting back into the European circle and enjoying what I was doing and I did that really well indoors," Derbyshire said."I just want that to translate into outdoors."I had a bit of a messy run the week before [Prague] but I think it really helped me lock in. I really was like, 'OK, this is your bench[mark], start like this is your line in the sand, like you know what you can improve on.'"It fuelled the performance for the week after because I was very determined to do something I felt was more representative of myself."Derbyshire said his run "felt incredible" and like a bit of a "blur"."Even though it was so much quicker than I've ever run before, it just felt effortless to some degree - so I knew I was running well," he added."But then when I saw the time, I was like, 'Wow.'" LA 2028 would be 'kind of crazy' Derbyshire's time makes him eligible for selection for the World Championships in Japan in can further enhance his claim for a place by finishing in the top two at the UK Championships in Birmingham in August."It would be great to get picked [but] nothing is guaranteed," Derbyshire said. "The event is in such a good place, I genuinely believe there's more boys that are capable of it. "We celebrated the high, but it doesn't mean the work is over. "It takes a lot of pressure off for the rest of the season, so it's now just making sure I continue performing well and try and pull out some of my best performances at the British Championships come August."Beyond that, Derbyshire said making the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028 is his "long-term plan"."I would love to to go to the Olympics. I feel like that is sort of the ultimate for everyone," he added. "Once you're an Olympian, they can't take that away from you."I'll be 28-years-old, so in terms of handling it, that's like a really good age - you're starting to come towards like your peak."It's a really good thing to get me towards that goal. I'd love to be an Olympian. I just think that would be kind of crazy."
