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Question from: County Councillor Pete Roberts Subject: Control of Japanese Knotweed
Question: I have now started to receive notification of Japanese Knotweed regrowth within my ward. Given the highly invasive nature of this plant and the often repeated intervention needed on a site over a number of years can you reassure me that Covid-19 will not be allowed to get in the way of our responsibilities in the respect of this and other notifiable species and can you also confirm the most effective method for Councillors and members of the public to notify occurrences and the level of service response they should expect this year?
Minutes: Response by the Portfolio Holder:
The control of Japanese Knotweed and other invasive weeds is considered important, and therefore it is planned to continue this service as in previous years.
The preferred method of reporting issues with Invasive weeds on Powys County Council land is via the Council public website. There is a specific page for invasive weeds with links to National Resources Wales and Royal Horticultural Society for further guidance, and a link to the appropriate online reporting form. Confirmed reports are added to our register, which also provides details of all the sites we are currently aware of and treating as part of an ongoing programme.
Our current method of treatment for Japanese knotweed is to apply Glyphosate on 2 or 3 occasions between May and October, it is non-selective so will kill all other vegetation, but importantly it is approved for use near watercourses and is translocated to the roots. The glyphosate treatment is applied using a knapsack or injected directly into the stems by injector gun. Repeated treatments may be required in following years until the knotweed has been totally eradicated.
The council does not offer a service to control invasive weeds growing on private land, but we aim to work with neighbouring landowners to control Japanese Knotweed where it also occurs on our adjoining land.
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