Battle over floating threat to River Kennet

Ali Powell • Published 18 Nov 2009 17:21 1 Comment

A PLANT which can grow up to 20cms (or eight inches) a day is being cleared from river water in south Reading.

Contractors are working their way along the A33 from Madejski Stadium to Kennet Island clearing and infestation of the rampant plant Pennywort from the waters of the River Kennet.

It will be cleared by the end of next week and left to dry along the riverbank for a further week before being removed from the site and disposed of safely.

Environment Agency spokesman Narinder Sokhi said: "We received calls from fishermen and the public, the river is choked with Pennywort.

"We have already finished the top end near the Madejski Stadium and will finish removing it from the river near Kennet Island by the end of next week.

"It then needs to dry out before it can be moved from the banks, this will happen the following week."

A north American native, Pennywort grows and spreads rapidly, choking everything in its path, and could soon take its place in the plants' rogues gallery, alongside Japanese Knotweed and Giant Hogweed.

Tweet

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

• 

  Gareth Epps
  Unregistered User
  Nov 19, 12:21
  Report comment

  If the EA could take responsibility for clearing rubbish from the water, rather than passing the buck, then so much the better!
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

Post a comment

Your Comment:

Registered users log in here

Username or email

Password

If you are registered with us, you can login here. If you are not registered, do so now.
Once logged in you wont have to complete word verification each time you post.

Prefer not to register?

Screen Name *required

Email (not displayed) *required

Usernames must be 4 - 20 characters. Registration only takes a few minutes. Registered users can also take part in competitions and other features of the site.

Word Verification:
Enter the text as shown.

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.

Follow @rdgchronicle