The main car park off the high street in Stonehouse. Japanese knotweed is firmly established within the property from which it has escaped into this public space. Knotweed debris has been piled at several places within the property, from where it has established further colonies.
As well as debris within the property generating new knotweed, more scatterings beyond its boundaries have established further colonies within the car park's edge: it will certainly emerge from the tarmac'd surface in the park, regardless of any temporary eradication at the margins(were this to be done).
These images will also show some of the many mechanical means whereby the knotweed disperses itself: its drooping and aggressive habit, along with vigorous fresh growth over a metre away and joining the kerb, makes it likely to be spread further this season. Disturbance of plant material and earth/grass may be likely via pedestrians, dog fouling, mowing or strimming. Car tyres and bumpers make frequent contact with the knotweed, encouraging further growth and a(small) likelihood of knotweed material being carried offsite. The cost can only be imagined, were this to be inadvertantly brought home to the garden by an unsuspecting shopper.
I am aware that both this knotweed site and the ones within and on the periphery of Standish hospital are within 2 miles of each other...and that both abut land that is in frequent public use. There are different but equally acute concerns across these 2 sites; the Standish site is of course covered in my other gallery and its knotweed is presently encroaching out into farmland(and preumably into the farmer's livelihood).

I am also informed that both properties are, at time of compiling these galleries(May 2012)the responsibility of Gloucesterhire Primary Care Trust.
SR May 2012