Piles of dried up, dead Japanese Knotwood and the construction site in Saugus that residents believe is the source of the invasive weed.Photo: James Rojas/WBZ NewsRadio
SAUGUS, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Residents of a Saugus neighborhood across from the Square One Mall are being twisted in knots by an invasive plant called Japanese Knotweed.
At the town's last Planning Board meeting, frustrated residents talked about the problem with town officials saying they believe the source of the invasive weed was a contractor working on a nearby construction site who brought in loads of topsoil that contained the weed.
And now residents said the weed is growing out of control as that relentless species of weed tends to do.
Among their concerns, residents said the weed is damaging their property values.
Jeannie Meredith is the Vice Chair of the Saugus Planning Board. She said she's very concerned about the issue and intends to find a solution. "I don't want to hear anyone having concerns about anything in their neighborhood, especially if it's out of their control," she said. "I am going to help rectify the issue."
The contractor said it will take care of the problem, whether by its workers clearing the weeds by hand, or even using weed-eating goats.
WBZ NewsRadio's James Rojas (@JamesRojasMMJ) reports.
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