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A load of COBBLES


Calderdale Council’s Parks Services Manager, MARK DEMPSEY, is responsible for the borough’s entire weed killing operation across miles of cobbled paths and highways


I


am currently employed by Calderdale Council as the Parks Services Manager, a dual client /contractor


role which was set up in 2001, with responsibility for the entire weed killing operations connected with parks and highways in the borough. Calderdale is located along the M62


corridor between Leeds and Manchester, on the eastern side of the Pennines. The picturesque borough is a diamond shape approximately 25 miles long and 15 miles wide containing the mill towns of Halifax, Todmorden, Brighouse and Sowerby Bridge. Spraying duties are split between Parks Contracts (with teams working from parks depots) and a centrally based Highways Spraying team, which is backed up by parks staff and external contractors.


In house spraying of the highways started in 1994 when the Street Cleaning contract was won by our Leisure Services Department. During the first 2 years it was a steep learning curve as we were used to spraying in parks, housing and grassed areas to CCT contracts, but not hard surfaces anywhere in the borough. Luckily, 1994 and 1995 were particularly dry summers. During this period a client/contractor relationship was developed within the Highways Section. The Highways Inspector at the time was Roy Horn (now retired), he knew what he wanted, and all the back streets and alleys where weeds grew were sprayed. He was a good tutor and, although he perhaps lacked a bit of horticultural knowledge, he had a vision of what standards were needed in Calderdale. The concept of a truly weed free urban area did cause a few discussions between us!


At this time Simon Whitehead,


Pesticide store keeper and operator, was appointed on a permanent basis to carry


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on the spraying throughout the winter. Over the years we have noticed considerable benefits from spraying in the winter in that we get a longer period of plant death once the chemical has saturated deep into plant tissues. It may take longer for the chemical to activate due to the low light and cold temperatures, however, over time, we have seen some very good results. Weeds sprayed in November gradually die and do not recover, often meaning that we do not need to spray these areas until April when new weed seeds germinate. The equipment we use has improved considerably since the early days. We were walking everywhere in the first year then progressed to a 15 year old converted Kubota 7100 with 100 litre tank and electric pump. In 1998 we moved on to a John Deere 4100 with a team sprayer, rear PTO driven pump and a 250 litre capacity tank. In 2001 we acquired a Yamaha Big Bear Quad Bike. As for staff, Simon is joined by a second sprayer on the quad for the main part of the spraying season and then backed up further by Grounds Maintenance staff who are based in parks and towns within the borough. Without these staff we would really struggle. Their experience, local knowledge, commitment and dedication to keeping their local area maintained to a high standard cannot be bettered. During the height of the season additional assistance is given by contractors. We have employed ATV contractors from Melton Mowbray and they have always done a good job for us with a minimum amount of fuss. Last year Steve Hill of Complete Weed Control helped out in what was a particularly demanding season with Council CPA Inspectors touring the area. In 2001 we instigated a change in spraying application from Controlled


Droplet Applicators (CDA) back to hydraulic knapsacks. Simon and I had always used knapsacks on the highways so we knew it was more effective, it was just a case of selling it to the rest of the lads. As it turned out the staff took to the idea and results were quickly seen as well as considerable cost savings made. We had to relocate in the autumn of 2003 because Wellesley Park, where the department had been based in the old barracks since the early 60s, was making way for a new school development. The spray operation was moved to Lock Hill Mills in Sowerby Bridge which meant work on a new pesticide store which had to meet the stringent Health and Safety and Environmental standards set by Basis. At the same time we applied for BACCS (Basis Advance Certified Contractors Scheme), becoming only the second local authority in the UK to achieve this standard. Our equipment is annually tested under the National Spray Testing Scheme and 12 of our sprayers, including Simon and myself, are members of NRoSO (National Register of Spray Operators). Currently we are working closely with


Calderdale's sustainability team to achieve the ISO 14001 environmental standard and the PAS 100 standard for recycled compost.


Whilst it may seem that we are badge collecting, working to these standards means that spraying is being done safely and correctly, which can only be good for the people and staff of Calderdale.


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