A NEW list has been published showing the known locations of two invasive and dangerous plant species across Warrington.

The treatment list has been generated by Warrington Borough Council following a request by former councillor Nigel Balding, sent before he lost his seat in last month’s local election.

Giant hogweed is highly dangerous, with its sap damaging skin on contact, and it can leave people with scars as a result.

Whereas Japanese knotweed has the potential to grow up through cracks in concrete, tarmac driveways, pathways, drains and cavity walls, causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.

Asking for the list, Mr Balding said: “For the last two years, the cabinet member responsible for the environment has been kind enough to provide a list of current locations where WBC is aware of Japanese knotweed and giant hogweed growing on land it owns.

“The list has very useful in highlighting the level of the problem for the council at the time.

“Please can Cllr Kerr-Brown please write to me again with an updated list of the known locations and describe changes this year, if any, to the control measures for these notifiable plants?

A response was given by Cllr John Kerr-Brown, the council’s cabinet member for environment and public protection.

He wrote: “I enclose a copy of the schedule of locations detailing the current areas of land where both Japanese knotweed and giant hogweed are located.

“I can confirm that the authority still treats the areas with appropriate spraying during the year and records the date of application.

“When greater intervention is appropriate, managed removal and disposal of the plants is supported using approved methods of removal and disposal.”

Here is the full list of known Japanese knotweed locations:

  • Hulme Street Backs
  • The Twiggeries
  • The Twiggeries, to the rear of Kingsway North
  • St Elphin’s Park, at the side of the bowling green
  • Wellington Street – Howley Park
  • Eastford Road
  • Warrington Transporter Bridge
  • Priestley Street – Rock Oil grass plot
  • Sankey Valley Park, near the BMX track off Liverpool Road
  • Sankey Valley Park, on the Trans Pennine Trail up to Fiddler’s Ferry
  • Sankey Valley Trail, near the border with Newton
  • Sankey Valley Park, near the Sankey Way crossing
  • Thornton Road, near Eagle Sports
  • Sycamore Lane
  • Park Road – Freshwater Close open space
  • Ventnor Close, at the rear
  • Laburnham Lane
  • Farmside Close, opposite the former allotment site to the rear of Lovely Lane
  • Dallam Recreation Ground, along the fence bordering the railway line
  • Newton Road, opposite the priory
  • Radley Common – Peel Hall Park mounds
  • Greenwood Crescent, at the former play area
  • Whitecross Park, near the footbridge
  • Greenfields Avenue
  • Birchwood Way, at junction 11 for Splitter Island
  • Birchwood Brook Park
  • Woolston Grange Avenue
  • Nottingham Close
  • Newcut Trail
  • Victoria Park, neat the path to the rowing club
  • Weir Lane, to the rear of Victoria Park
  • Landseer Ave/Gainsborough Road
  • Trans Pennine Trail, near Weir Street
  • Chester Road cycleway
  • Chester Road, at the junction with Runcorn Road
  • Pilmoss Lane
  • Trans Pennine Trail, near Sow Brook and Brooklyn Drive, Lymm
  • Booths Lane
  • Sankey Way, near the crossing to Sankey Valley Park before the footbridge
  • Sankey Way, near Wellfield Street
  • Bewsey Meadows
  • Bruche Park, near Padgate Brook and to the rear of Shearwater Drive
  • Warrington Road, Walton near Park Lane
  • Padgate Park, near the bridge at Capesthorne Road

Here is the full list of known giant hogweed locations:

  • Eastford Road
  • Forrest Way, on the Trans Pennine Trail
  • Victoria Park, on the Mersey path
  • Chester Road cycleway, from Centre Park to Gainsborough Road
  • New Cut Trail
  • Trans Pennine Trail, near the River Bollin
  • Winwick Lane
  • Eco Park, near the elevated path
  • Marshall Gardens, on the River Mersey embankment
  • Barleycastle Lane
  • Grappenhall Lane
  • Mill Lane/Townfield Lane
  • Old Key Canal
  • New Lane, Appleton

Locations on the list that have not been given a knotweed or hogweed classification are:

  • Farrell Street, to the rear of the school
  • Kimberley Street, near Norley Close play area
  • Newcut Trail, near Nottingham Close
  • Victoria Park, near Toy Library and the shrub border near the allotments
  • Trans Pennine Trail, to the rear of Cranborne Avenue
  • Trans Pennine Trail, near Arpley Meadows and Eastford Road access
  • Mill Lane/ Wetgate Lane