Cork council seeks advice on how to tackle invasive knotweed
The council is awaiting expert advice from the National Roads Authority (NRA) which has appointed consultants to identify the best ways of destroying the species, which was brought into Europe in the early 1800s.
The issue was raised in County Hall by Cllr Marcia D’Alton (Ind) who said the council “couldn’t stand idly by and watch it take over”.
She said the plant was very established in Britain, where it was causing an estimated £166 million (€231m) in damage annually.
Cllr D’Alton said it needed to be expertly tackled because, if chopped up, even the tiniest piece can grow again, and a mature plant can grow at a rate of up to 20cm each day.
She said the Japanese knotweed problem was so serious in Britain that three financial institutions had refused to approve mortgages if it was discovered within 10km of a property.
Cllr D’Alton said she witnessed council staff cutting it on the Rochestown Road, but regrowth occurred as every sliver had not been removed.
“We must train our ground staff and contractors to recognise it and how to deal with it safely,” she said.
Cllr Kevin Conway (Ind), meanwhile, said he was aware of one householder who spent three years eradicating the weed from his property.
Cllr Michael Collins (Ind) said the problem was so serious in West Cork that repairs on a stretch of road between Schull and Goleen could not proceed for the next three years. He said he was informed by council engineers that it would take that time to get rid of the plants.
Cllr Anthony Barry (FG) was concerned about growths of knotweed along the railway line in east Cork and in four areas around Carrigtwohill.
Cllr Deirdre Forde (FG) said she recently had representations from residents in Ballincollig who were extremely worried about it encroaching on their homes.
The council’s Environmental Special Purposes Committee (SPC) also discussed the issue at a special meeting on Monday.
Dr Mary Stack, the council’s chief environmental officer, said literature about the plant was to be distributed to libraries and said she would speak to tidy town groups about the importance of stopping its spread.
The council’s chief executive Tim Lucey acknowledged the plant was causing problems and it could be expensive to eradicate it.
He said the council may have to look at setting aside funding at its annual budget meeting in December to deal with the issue.
With both limited finances and outdoor work teams, Mr Lucey said the council was unlikely to be able to tackle the issue on its own and would need support through a national eradication programme, probably administered by the Department of Environment.
