Bill to get second 'weeding'

The House of Keys will take a step closer to banning people from sowing their wild oats next week.

South Douglas MHK Kate Beecroft will steer the Weeds Amendment Bill 2013 through its second reading when MHKs sit on Tuesday.

The new laws alter legislation which dates back to 1957 governing particularly harmful plants.

The proposals give the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture the power to order landowners to cut down a list of so-called “injurious weeds”.

Six particular plants are targeted by the department – it’ll be able to order people to cut them down – or face fines of up to £500.

If people don’t respond to the department’s order, they can also be fined £5 per day until the weeds are gone.

The plants concerned are Spear Thistle, Creeping or Field Thistle, Curled Dock, Broad-leaved Dock, Ragwort, Wild oats.

Wild oats make the list because they’re almost impossible to eradicate with herbicides without damaging crops.