The issue was brought to campaigner Ann Smith’s attention after an Adswood man had a mortgage application refused due to a knotweed infestation leading from land owned by Network Rail.
Ann has written to Network Rail asking them to act swiftly to stop the knotweed from their land infesting neighbouring properties. She has also written to residents bordering Network Rail property in Adswood, Edgeley, Bridgehall, Davenport and Cale Green.
This information sheet is to help you if you think you might be affected by Japanese Knotweed growing on nearby land.
The Environment Agency has no powers to intervene specifically, but has a very good page about the background and legal situation when japanese knotweed is located.
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/wildlife/130079.aspx
There is also a good link to what Japanese knotweed looks like in case you are not sure.
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/static/documents/Leisure/Japanese_Knotweed.pdf
Network Rail’s page regarding its work to “control these weeds on our land and dispose of the waste responsibly so that we do not accidentally spread weeds to new places.”
http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/1034.aspx
Stockport Council’s policy paper regarding Japanese knotweed. This includes a series of policy statements outlining exactly what the Council can do, which includes offering guidance to residents regarding the control of Japanese Knotweed on private land.
Click to access Japanese%20Knotweed%20draft%20policy%20July%202011.pdf
Finally, there are lots of companies that can address the knotweed issue, but one of the UK’s dedicated specialists is based here in Stockport:
