EFFORTS are continuing to get rid of Japanese Knotweed from land in Kincardine.

The invasive plant was spotted at the end of Hawkhill Road and local councillor Sam Steele has been trying to ensure it does not grow further - but there's confusion about which body should ensure its removal.

Cllr Steele explained: "The Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) and Environmental Protection Act (1990), state the land owner and/or contractor of the land has responsibility to control land contaminated by Japanese Knotweed and we are all very well aware how rapidly this spreads.

"After speaking with our lead officer in safer communities, I was informed that enforcement of control of such invasive species on private land falls within the remit of DEFRA - the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs."

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Japanese knotweed is a weed that spreads rapidly.  In winter the plant dies back to ground level but by early summer the bamboo-like stems emerge and grow to over 2.1m (7ft), suppressing all other plant growth.

Cllr Steele added: "I have now emailed DEFRA to report this and ask for it's prompt removal.

"Hopefully the landowner will remove it before DEFRA get involved. We all know how invasive it is and how quickly it grows and spreads, the worry is that it is close to residences already."

The Press contacted DEFRA who said the issue was one for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to deal with.

A spokesperson for SEPA said they had not been informed about the knotweed, adding that it was the responsibility of the landowner or land manager to prevent any non-native species on their land or water from spreading into the wild.