Tied up in knots over Knotweed plants

SDLP councillor Donal Cunningham asked that Moyle Council removes, by deep excavation, any Japanese Knotweed found on Council-owned property and informs any other landower and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency if it is found elsewhere so that proper control measures can be put in place.

Moyle Council officer Aidan McPeake said the Council had two areas which had significant Japanese Knotweed and it was sprayed over the last two years which seemed to work very well.

Ulster Unionist councilor Joan Baird said she has had to eradicate Japanese Knotweed and the only the way to deal with it is to spray it in autumn.

Mr McPeake said the roots can be three and a half metres and he did not believe excavation is the best way to deal with it.

He said there was Japanese Knotweed near the ferry terminal at Ballycastle and at a clifftop in Cushendall.

Councillor Cunningham said the matter of Japanese Knotweed had been discussed recently at a village meeting in Knocknacarry.