Invasive Japanese knotweed spreading from banks of River Slaney into gardens of Wexford homeowners

By Simon Bourke, Wexford People

Invasive Japanese knotweed has begun spreading from the banks of the River Slaney into the adjoining gardens of private properties. Raising the issue at the July meeting of Wexford County Council (WCC), Mayor of Wexford Councillor Garry Laffan said the knotweed was making its way from the roadsides and riverbanks into people’s homes.

“For years it’s been on the side of public roads and along the banks of the Slaney but it’s now spreading into the households from Killurin all the way into Wexford town,” he said.

Environmental engineer with WCC, Hugh Maguire, said council crews were only assigned to deal with the spread of the plant in certain areas.

“If it's on the roadside our crews do look after it and in Wexford town there has been a programme to eradicate it, and it’s been successful in some areas,” he replied. “But despite popular opinion WCC is not responsible for Japanese knotweed when it spreads into private areas, it comes under the remit of the National Parts and Wildlife Service (NPWS,). But if it’s on your property it’s up to you to treat it, and that’s best done in the Autumn.”

However, Cllr Laffan argued that homeowners couldn’t treat the plant if it had spread from a public area.

“Who owns the land on the riverbanks?” he asked. “It’s starting there and expanding into people’s properties. Originally it was on the banks of the river and homeowners would have no control over that.”

Although repeating that “everyone’s responsible for their own properties”, Mr Maguire said he would look into the issue and see what could be done.