Gorton Resident Newsletter June 2012

Improvement News June 2012

working well together

Keeping Residents In the Picture Front Fencing & Driveway Update

Our Health & Safety advisors visited pupils at St James Primary School to educate them about the dangers of building sites.

Rear Boundary

Mary—Resident on Hemsworth Rd receives flowers as her property is the last to be completed.

Approximately 276 properties have received new rear fencing.

Small Environmental works

St James Primary School take part in safety talks.

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85 Properties have been started

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41 Driveways been installed

A ‘Jubilee’ Consultation

Flagging work and fencing is completed at Dorris Street. The project team and local residents add the finishing touches by helping with the planting.

Royal Visitors to site Members of the Casey workforce join in the Jubilee Celebrations.

Many Residents attended the consultation event which showed plans and designs on work about to start on 6 areas.

Some areas will be gaining much needed parking bays and Residents who live close the these areas will receive drawings and details of the work.

Our contact details Site office 0161 442 5617 Customer Care 0800 032 8707 Sarah 07764 600914 Ellen 07764 600944 E: info@casey.co.uk

W: www.casey.co.uk

Japanese Knotweed What is Knotweed Japanese knotweed was introduced to the UK in the mid nineteenth century as an ornamental plant. Since then it has become a serious problem and can cause structural damage. It can grow in almost any soil type. It is vital when found that it is specially treated reducing the risk of it spreading.

Summer— Summer—By mid-summer, Japanese knotweed canes have usually achieved their maximum growth, which can be a height of 2.5m. During August & September the canes produce clusters of white flowers.

How is it spread— spread The majority of Japanese knotweed has and can be spread by riverbank erosion, fly tipping, garden waste and the movement of contaminated soil.

Recognising Japanese Knotweed The plant itself can easily be identified by its large oval-shaped leaves and bamboo style stems.

The appearance of Japanese knotweed changes throughout the seasons.

Spring— Spring—In Spring time the Japanese Knotweed will start to send new shoots from underground to the surface; these are red/purple colour and have leaves which are rolled back. Growth is rapid and can grow 10cm per day at its peak.

Winter— Winter—During the winter months, Japanese knotweed dies back. The canes, often 2.5m high, die off and become brown and leafless. Canes may take up to 3 years to decompose, and often form a dense litter, preventing other plants from growing with the Japanese knotweed.

Why is Japanese Knotweed such a problem?

As well as being a 'weed' Japanese Knotweed is a serious problem in terms of structural damage. Once it has taken hold in ground near to buildings, it can soon cause problems of damage to buildings and certainly paved areas such as footpaths and patios. The underground stems are capable of diving down into the soil to a depth of 3 metres. Japanese Knotweed has even been found to be growing through the floorboards of a living room, after presumable growing under the foundations of the house! So - NOT to be ignored.

One it takes hold, it is capable of spreading over an area of a few hundred metres within the space of a year!

Treatment Japanese Knotweed is not easily killed. Weed killers do not work as the plant needs to be chemically and professionally treated.

Don't try removing or composting it, this will not kill it - it is a waste of time and will lead to problems if you then use that compost on your garden!

Report It ! If you think you have Japanese Knotweed and we are not aware of it please contact Eastline 0161 274 2390

Our contact details Site office 0161 442 5617 Customer Care 0800 032 8707 Sarah 07764 600914 Ellen 07764 600944 E: info@casey.co.uk

W: www.casey.co.uk