Some householders who live by a large area of Japanese knotweed-infested land in Llanelli have resorted to taking their own steps to deal with the invasive plant because it is creeping up to their gardens. The land is surrounded on three sides by homes on Gower View, Heol Goffa, Warner Place and Llys Warner. The southern edge abuts a footpath, the other side of which is special school Ysgol Heol Goffa.
Around a third of the land - the section closest to the school - is unregistered, according to Land Registry records. The remaining land is privately-owned. It is not clear when the knotweed took root on the land, which local people say was a quarry many years ago before waste was tipped there. It is also not clear what steps have been taken to control it, although some residents say the land was effectively flattened by an earth-mover in more recent years.
Vicky Honeybun, of Gower View, said the knotweed has climbed up her back garden wall at times. She said she felt the situation was wrong and that more action should be taken about the fast-spreading and resilient plant. "Residents have to deal with the consequences of it," she said.
