Action Pledged on Japanese Knotweed by Chiswick Pier

Council says cold weather delayed removal of dangerous growth

Japanese Knotweed growing by Chiswick Pier

May 23, 2023

Hounslow Council is saying that residents need not be concerned about the growth of Japanese Knotweed by the riverside in Chiswick as it is taking steps to tackle the problem.

A large amount of the pervasive plant has grown either site of the ramp leading to Chiswick Pier and in front of the residential area at Regency Quay.

The non-native species is notorious for the damage it can do particularly with regard to the undermining of foundations due to its roots.

Some mortgage lenders refuse to lend to properties where Japanese Knotweed has been identified within seven metres of the boundary, so residents were becoming concerned about the apparent lack of action.

One says that he reported the issue to the council’s customer services centre but that it was denied that the borough had responsibility to clear the plant from this site.

Normally Japanese Knotweed clearance would be done by the council’s contractor, Hounslow Highways. The organisation has abandoned the use of chemical weedkillers in general, but these are the only way to permanently remove Japanese Knotweed. Knotweed has very long and brittle roots and if it is simply cut down or dug up then the remaining roots will cause it to regrow more aggressively. Hounslow Highways has been specially licensed to use the strong poisons needed to remove it.

When we asked the council it accepted responsibility for removal of the plant at this location and said that it was already on the case.

A spokesperson for the council told us, “The Japanese Knotweed couldn’t be treated in March or April because it wasn’t sufficiently growing due to the long winter and cold weather. It had a stem injection last Friday, 19 May 2023, and will have a follow up a week later which will be this Friday, 26 May 2023.”