REVOLT! GARDEN CENTRES PLOT TO REOPEN
Sturgeon faces f irst challenge to ‘life or death’ lockdown rules as Scots nurseries stage rebellion
GARDEN centre owners are threatening to rebel over Nicola Sturgeon’s refusal to relax lockdown restrictions.
Centres in Wales can reopen tomorrow while those in England are expected to welcome customers back from Wednesday. But the First Minister has been adamant that it is too early for Scotland.
However, some defiant owners are planning to bend the rules and start selling basic food and groceries along with plants in order to be counted as ‘essential’ retailers.
One revealed: ‘They’re saying we will let people come in and buy
bedding plants, but they have to buy dog food as well. At what point will operators take the lead, ahead of the Scottish Government, if they are not allowed to open up?’
Some centre owners said it was unfair that they had to remain closed while supermarkets and DIY stores were open and allowed to sell plants and gardening supplies.
Others said they were under siege from an army of frustrated gardeners demanding access to plants, tools and seeds.
The move by garden centre owners would free customers to buy plants and shrubs as long as they also purchased food items such as bread and milk.
While some owners demanded the right to open to the public right away, others said Ms Sturgeon should at least set out a clear timetable for reopening.
The First Minister is due to update her plans to ease lockdown measures today, but indicated last week that garden centres would not open ‘for a little bit longer’.
However, Scotland’s garden centre bosses insist they can open safely now, in line with premises south of the Border.
And they warned that time is running out as the season will end in mid to late June.
Simon Fraser, managing director of Ben Reid garden centre on the outskirts of Aberdeen, said: ‘One of the main concerns shared across the garden centres community is the frustration our customers feel in the current situation and their understanding of what we are allowed to do.’
He fears that if England and Wales move ahead of Scotland, he will have to ‘call the police because I’ll have 20 cars outside my doors in the morning’.
He added: ‘I believe we can open safely. We have put a lot of thought into it and others have, too.
‘We need to be able to make that choice as individual operators.
‘But my main concern is what the reaction of the garden centre public will be. They’re already extremely frustrated. Nursery managers are coming home to find their wives harassed. People are moving cones, opening garden centre gates, going with masks and sunglasses and saying, “Here’s my order. You’re not answering the phone”.
‘They can’t understand why B&Q and Homebase are able to sell plants, yet they can’t get anywhere near us. It’s a hellish situation and stress is rising.’
Mr Fraser made it clear that he would not defy government advice and open early, but added: ‘There are operators who are frustrated.
‘Some may say, “Let’s sell newspapers, milk and bread, and then we can open”.
‘We can’t sell our products in August. After mid-June, to the end of June, it’s done.’
The Horticultural Trade Association has held talks with both the Scottish and UK Governments, but it still does not know when garden centres might be able to open north of the Border.
Chairman James Barnes said: ‘If there was a lag of two to three days, if Scotland opened on Friday, say, that would be fine. If it was not the case I would be very disappointed.
I live near Kelso. I am 200 yards from the Border. I would be asking the question whether it would be safe for me to travel across the Border, to Berwick Garden Centre to buy some plants.’
Another garden centre boss said that the Scottish Government was wrong to say that they could not open safely.
Drew Gallagher, managing director of Cardwell Garden Centre, near Gourock, Renfrewshire, said: ‘We strongly believe garden centres like Cardwell should be allowed to open, so long as the proper social distancing can be adhered to.
‘Being able to visit a garden centre and see what plants and gardening products they want is an important factor for gardeners.
‘This wouldn’t be a problem for Cardwell to operate safely, as we have lots of spacious areas − unlike some supermarkets and large discount stores − and it shouldn’t be a problem to keep a safe distance from other visitors.’
Yesterday, the Scottish Government refused to be drawn on the country’s first steps out of lockdown, to be announced today, or respond directly to garden centre concerns.
Instead, they pointed to Ms Sturgeon’s comments on Friday, when she said: ‘If you are not being allowed to do something in Scotland that you are being allowed to do in other parts of the UK, or vice-versa, it’s because we judge here that it’s still necessary − to save you from getting this virus and potentially save your life if you became seriously unwell. We’re asking you for a little bit longer, not to, for example, go to garden centres.’
The Scottish Retail Consortium and the Dobbies garden centre chain have both called on the Scottish Government to set out greater detail on the route out of lockdown restrictions.
David Lonsdale, director of the Scottish Retail Consortium, said: ‘Our members in pharmacy, grocery and pet food retailing have demonstrated during the coronavirus crisis their ability to operate safely and responsibly in this new environment, regardless of the size of premises. They’ve invested significantly over an incredibly short period in social distancing and other hygiene measures in order to protect staff and customers.
‘Retailers are working hard to get ready to safely reopen and help get the economy moving again.
‘What is needed now in Scotland is visibility on the route out of lockdown.’
A spokesman for Dobbies said: ‘We have been working hard behind the scenes to ensure that we can
‘It’s a hellish situation and the stress is rising’
reopen our garden centres safely and responsibly.’
Scottish Tory economy spokesman Maurice Golden said: ‘People are understandably frustrated that garden centres aren’t opening in Scotland while they will south of the Border. Given all the effort and money that has gone into social distancing measures at garden centres, their continued closure seems unnecessary.
‘Having differing lockdowns across the UK is a recipe for confusion, so the First Minister must explain her reasons.’