A pensioner fears his property has dramatically dropped in value after Japanese knotweed took over his home.
Richard Pember, from Pontypridd, Wales received a £10,000 payout from the Welsh Government’s rail operator due to the presence of the nuisance plant.
Pember - who bought his home 11 years ago - first spotted the weed coming from the train tracks which border his garden in 2016.
Despite his son renovating the garden with £800 worth of treatments, the plant has almost grown inside his home and keeps returning.
Pember - who bought his home 11 years ago - first spotted the weed coming from the train tracks which borders his garden in 2016
PA
Pontypridd County Court ruled that Transport for Wales, which owns the neighbouring rail line, had failed to "adequately treat the growth" which led to the intrusion of the house, which the company denies.
“It started off so small that I didn’t think anything of it. Then it just grew from nowhere to a point where it was almost coming inside the property," Pember told the Liverpool Echo.
"You hear stories about this stuff completely taking over homes and I was terrified that might happen to mine.
“It has massively devalued the house in my opinion because nobody wants to move into a property that has a Japanese knotweed infestation.
“It’s like living with a monster that always comes back.”
He added: “The Japanese knotweed has left destruction in its path to the point where a graveyard local to the property is completely covered in it.
"You can’t even see the gravestones anymore, which is really sad.”
Tom Hardwick, director at Angelus Law which pursued the case, said: “The victory showcases the importance of holding responsible parties accountable for their obligations to prevent the spread of such destructive plants.
Pontypridd County Court ruled that Transport for Wales, which owns the neighbouring rail line, had failed to 'adequately treat the growth' which led to the intrusion of the house, which the company denies
PA
“The damages awarded not only reflect the tangible losses suffered by homeowners like our client but also send a strong message about the necessity of proactive measures in tackling invasive species.”
Following the ruling, Transport for Wales said it was “naturally disappointed with this court result given the facts as presented to the court” but would not be appealing.
A spokesman added: “TfW has categorically not failed in treating the Japanese knotweed on its land and has a thorough and effective treatment programme in place across the whole of the Core Valley Lines network where this property neighbours.”
