Further call to tackle knotweed
YOU produced an article a few weeks ago about the scourge of Japanese knotweed and then followed this up with a lengthy letter from me where I explained what could and should be done to get rid of it. I asked the island as a whole to get behind an eradication programme which could see us being rid of this pest for good by the end of the decade. I received some positive feedback from the public who had knotweed growing on their land but, as expected, nothing whatsoever from any of our States departments who must be seen to be in the vanguard of any eradication effort.
We now read in the Guernsey Press (May 9) that Leale's Yard has been found to have an infestation but lo and behold the Co-op are bringing in specialist contractors to get rid of it before they start any building work.
Why oh why didn't they have the foresight or common decency to act years ago rather than allowing it to spread and burying their heads in the sand until our building control laws force them to act?
I do feel I am running a one-man campaign here and losing, so I say once again ...Please, please States departments, let us get together and fight Japanese knotweed now and not allow it to flourish until it suits a developer to undertake a programme of spraying prior to starting to build.
GERRY TATTERSALL,
Le Petit Bois,
Sausmarez Road,
St Martin's,
GY4 6SQ.
Editor's footnote: Colin Macleod, chief executive of The Channel Islands Co-operative Society, responds:
'Your reader appears to have aimed their letter at the States of Guernsey as they would like to see an island-wide approach to the problem of Japanese knotweed, however I am happy to respond on the points which related to Leale's Yard.
As I'm sure readers appreciate, Leale's Yard is a large site which has been disused for a number of years.
Given that a number of the structures have fallen into disrepair, and the site is overgrown, The Channel Islands Co-operative Society has ensured that it is as secure as possible and access is extremely limited. As part of the recent preliminary investigations in relation to the proposed redevelopment, Japanese knotweed was discovered.
We have contacted a local specialist who is putting together an appropriate method to deal with the Japanese knotweed problem and this work should be completed within a matter of weeks.'
