Surrender in the war on knotweed menace
THE Government has been forced to give up the fight against Japanese knotweed in Britain.
As well as ruining gardens the plant, which grows to seven feet tall, can damage brick walls and the foundations of buildings.
After decades trying to tackle the problem the Government now says knotweed is too expensive to destroy.
With annual costs running at £ 1.5billion, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Minister George Eustice said: “There are no plans to attempt a national eradication because the cost would be prohibitively expensive and likely to be unsuccessful given the widespread distribution of the species.”
Costly
Knotweed roots can grow to more than 15ft deep but it cannot be dug out as any roots left in rapidly regrow.
Herbicides have shown results in combating the weed, but the process is slow and costly.
Roger Wilkson, of RWS Pest and Weed Control in Stockport, said: “If it’s on site you will need to have a property risk assessment and a management plan needs to be put in place which is usually a five- year programme.
“There will be a range of options but it usually involves two to three years of treatment and then the site needs monitor- ing for around two years.” In 2011 hopes of a biological control were raised when thousands of Japanese insects were released into the wild. However, Mr Eustice said only “small populations” of the bug had survived.
Though this summer will see a new release programme in some areas, homeowners will be left alone to fight the weed which can make it hard to get a mortgage.
Owners can be forced to pay £ 3,000 to eradicate it and, in extreme cases, Asbos can be handed out to those failing to stop the spread – along with a fine of up to £ 2,500.