Current assessment of Japanese Knotweed in Benderloch: FOI release
Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.
FOI reference: FOI/17/01284
Date received: 11 June 2017
Date responded: 10 July 2017
Information requested
'I understand Transport Scotland is not required to treat Japanese knotweed growing on the verges of trunk roads but does include relevant terms in its contract arrangements with trunk road operating companies. As part of their contractual duties, the operating companies are required to record all evidence of Japanese knotweed occurring within their areas of operation and to develop programmes for the control of the species.'
Above taken from a Government document
With this in mind I would appreciate sight of Bear Scotland's current assessment of the presence of Japanese Knotweed in the village of Benderloch, in particular the verges from Station Cottages South to the village speed limit sign, including the verges of the now abandoned short stretch of SUSTRANS created cycle track. I assume all the former railway line ground adjacent to the road in that area is owned by Transport Scotland? (to the end of the former cycle track only, after that I understand it is private ownership).'
Response
Our operating company, Bear Scotland is required to control various weed species such as Japanese Knotweed. Transport Scotland require any infestation to be mapped and recorded. In relation to the first part of the request, please refer to Annex A, for the current assessment of the presence of Japanese Knotweed from our operating company's database, including adjacent to the A828. We also require a demonstrable reduction in the extent and number of such infestations. Annex B is the Injurious Species Management Plan which outlines our method of weed infestation reduction.
In response to the second part of your request, the cycle way is maintained by Transport Scotland's operating company. Annex C shows the maintenance boundaries, highlighted in pink, for that area. We have also included location plans of remote cyclepaths, highlighted in green, for north and south of Benderloch which can be found in Annex D.
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