A Wirral woman says she is anxious about the future of her “forever home” as an “unsightly” problem continues to worsen. Lesley Gavin, 63, from West Kirby, believes a suspected Japanese Knotweed issue is wreaking havoc in her area.
Ms Gavin said she feels “neglected” by the owners of her West Kirby flat, Onward Homes, which she claims have known about the issue for years. She showed the ECHO the suspected Japanese Knotweed, which sits a few yards outside her flat at Ramsey Court, off York Avenue. She fears the “unsightly mess” is responsible for a number of issues she and her neighbours are experiencing.
Damage and disruption at Ramsey Court
Increasingly uneven paving stones, cracks in walls, and water pressure issues have blighted Ramsey Court, Ms Gavin explained. The fast-growing invasive plant, commonly known as Japanese Knotweed, can cause havoc by damaging walls and blocking drains. The plant can have far-reaching roots, making it extremely difficult to get rid of once it takes hold.
Ms Gavin fears that in the coming months and years, the plant will spread its roots closer and closer to her building, becoming increasingly destructive over time. United Utilities has been on site to deal with a leak that has been causing issues with water pressure. The ECHO understands that while it is believed Japanese Knotweed is on site, this has not affected the water supply.
United Utilities repairs leak
A United Utilities spokesperson said: “As a gesture of goodwill, we have repaired a leak on a private water main in Ramsey Court. As this pipe is not part of our network, we initially needed to locate it and trace the source of the leak. The repair work is now complete and the water supply is back to normal.”
The responsibility to investigate and manage Japanese Knotweed is with the housing association, which in this case is Onward Homes. Ms Gavin spoke of a lack of communication from Onward to residents on the worsening situation.
She said: “It's impossible to get hold of someone. It's a nightmare. This is meant to be my forever home but this is causing me real anxiety over what problems I may face in the future.” Onward Homes have been approached for comment.
