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FACT. There is no UK statute which makes it an offence to allow Common ragwort to grow on your land.
FACT. The Weeds Act 1959 is an empowerment statute. It defines Common ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) as a ‘noxious weed’ and it empowers the Minister of Agriculture to take action against any land-owner/agent to prevent them from allowing ragwort from spreading from their land, including the power of authority to impose the removal of those noxious weeds, the ability to recover costs from the land-owner/agent, and even the power to recover any costs by forcing the sale of that land.
FACT. The Minister, by his own admission has not taken action under this Act in the last five years, other than to send out a few dozens of letters of concern.
FACT. The Weeds Act 1959 also empowers the Agricultural Minister to empower County Councils to likewise enforce the control over this noxious weed by utilising agents and powers at their disposal and with full access to recover costs incurred.
FACT. The reason commonly cited for not taking or enforcing action is that to enforce the Weeds Act 1959 would be prohibitively expensive and beyond present resources, yet the empowerment of County Councils to utilise nation-wide local resources has not been utilised.
FACT. The Weeds Act 1959 is perfectly adequate legislation for the control of ragwort. However, legislation which is not enforced is totally worthless. We must ask why those empowered to enforce this statute have chosen not to do so!!
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