Invasion of the Japanese knotweed
Infestation at lands owned by CIE and council highlight...
TWO State bodies are at risk of infecting private homes with an invasive plant that can wipe tens of thousands of euros off the value of their properties.
Homeowners in the seaside town of Rosslare Harbour, Co. Wexford, are at risk of being invaded by the much-feared Japanese knotweed which is spreading across two pieces of land owned by CIE and Wexford County Council.
The fast-growing plant can have serious implications for property owners by compromising the foundations of houses, blocking drains and outstripping other vegetation.
Soil within 7m of the plant can be contaminated by its sprawling root system which, if disturbed, can lead to it spreading further.
The infestation of Japanese knotweed at Rosslare Harbour is on a stretch of bank above the close to the former RNLI cottages.
A spokesperson for Irish Rail told the Irish Mail on Sunday that they intended to begin treating the infestation of knotweed either this month or next. The spokesperson said: ‘Our own employees identified the infestation during works last year... we intend to treat this area in the programme taking place in September to October 2017.’
‘People are afraid they won’t get planning’
Attempts to contact homeowners close to the site were unsuccessful this week.
A spokesperson for Wexford County Council said the council was tackling issues of knotweed when they become aware of it and is preparing to start electronically mapping instances of knotweed around the county.
‘Wexford County Council takes a pro-active approach to incidents of Japanese knotweed that may occur on our lands and we take action to prevent its future spread and to ensure its destruction,’ the spokesperson said.
In the UK there are strict laws surrounding knotweed with estate agents required to alert potential buyers if the property is infested. Landowners in the UK can be held liable for the costs incurred from the spread of knotweed to neighbouring properties as well as the disposal of the infected soil.
The law here is less clear cut. There is no obligation for those selling a property to notify potential buyers if Japanese knotweed is present. But there is a requirement for individuals to get a licence from the National Parks and Wildlife Services in order to safely dispose of the knotweed and the infected soil. Recent EU law, which applies here, requires homeowners to control/eradicate Japanese knotweed if it grows on their land, however the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht could not say if anyone has been prosecuted under the legislation. They did say, however, that new legislation to deal specifically with invasive species is being prepared by the department.
Japanese knotweed (fallopia japonica) was brought to Europe by German plant-hunter Philip Von Siebold. It was first cultivated in the west of Ireland as an exotic ornamental perennial. Its delicate white flower, handsome foliage and vigorous growth initially made it a popular choice for gardeners. But its ability to undermine roads, walls and bridges and railways has made it one of our most hated weeds.
Wexford county councillor Barbara Anne Murphy insisted that more needs to be done by the council to inform people how to deal with the invasive plant when they come across it. She said: ‘People aren’t aware that it can grow anywhere. The council has put signs out to let people know not to cut it.
‘We need more awareness to tell people how to deal with it. This is the first year that the council put up signs asking people not to cut it. People (who have found it on their land) are afraid that they won’t get planning permission,’ she said.
Removing Japanese knotweed can be expensive. The cost of spraying an infected area of 100sq. m. ranges from between €600 and €800, a process that needs to be done once or twice annually for three or four years.
David Hyde, a surveyor with Japanese Knotweed Ireland Ltd who specialise in removing invasive species, advised people who find the plant not to cut it.
‘In 90% of cases it spreads by people cutting it, the likelihood of it spreading is quite low if it is left alone – we often get calls from people who see it in their neighbour’s garden and are concerned that it could spread to theirs. We advise them to talk to them. Treating it over three or four years is the cheapest and easiest option.’
‘It spreads by people cutting it’