Invasive species leaves Council 'toothless' unless cutting stopped
Concern has been raised in Waterford about the danger of dealing with Japanese knotweed. Stock image
A member of Waterford City & County Council has questioned if the local authority has "a blind spot" when it comes to stopping Japanese knotweed.
At a recent Metropolitan meeting of Waterford City and County Council, local Fianna Fail Councillor Eamon Quinlan raised the issue of the Council’s alleged inability to tackle the cutting of Japanese Knotweed by property owners.
He said the current issue stems from a series of complaints in and around the Ferrybank area, that large amounts of knotweed were cut.
At the meeting Cllr Quinlan said he received complaints from locals in Ferrybank, in and around the Bishopsgrove, Rockenham area, that a large amount of Japanese knotweed was being cut on a weekend, when regular council staff were not available to respond.
"I contacted our team and we had an ‘on-call’ individual attend the area," said Cllr Quinlan.
"I was advised that there was not much that could be done at that stage," he added, saying he was shocked to hear that.
"We spend serious sums in an effort to combat the growth of Japanese knotweed and we appeared powerless to do anything," he said.
"I want to know are we at a disadvantage when short-staffed on weekends and if we have the powers to stop this, or do we have to bring in the National Parks and Wildlife Service," he added.
During the meeting the council informed Cllr Quinlan that the local authority's power remains consistent whether it is a weekend or weekday, and that it works with private landowners to address issues concerning knotweed, but that it's ultimately their responsibility to curb its growth.
"From the answer given by our Council Executive, it has become clear to me that there is a serious hole in our powers to act," said Cllr Quinlan, following the meeting.
"It seems as if the Council assumes everyone will act rationally, that those with Japanese knotweed would never wilfully cut it and spread it throughout an area," he added.
He then said that the issue is when a private landowner chooses to cut knotweed on their land - whether on purpose or misguided.
"If someone is developing a site and cuts the knotweed, to then build on it, that’s grand for them but what about everyone living nearby whose gardens and green areas will now be badly affected by a surge in Japanese knotweed," he said.
"The Council should realise that just because it's not ‘our problem’ today, doesn’t mean it won’t become our problem when it spreads to public lands, that the Council is responsible for," he added.
He also said it's very distressing for people to see their homes, gardens and wider community being interfered with.
He said that's especially true if it's for a development, where those carrying out the action, have no intentions themselves of living in the area, in the aftermath of their actions.
"This leaves us at a distinct disadvantage right across the county," he said.
"It appears to be a game of pass the parcel by the local authority in relation to who is responsible," he added.
"Unless the Council step up to serve notices to desist such cutting, on the day its happening, we are in effect, toothless," said Cllr Quinlan.
