Below , the reaction of the HTA to the garden centre closures and the seasonal workers cowcatcher schema .
HTA react to annunciation by First Minister on garden centre closuresReacting to news that Scotch garden centre will force to close from Boxing Day , James Clark , Director of Policy and Communications at the Horticultural Trades Association , said :
“ The word that Scotland has decided to tighten the definition of what is included as ‘ non - of the essence retail ’ to admit garden centres is hugely disappointing . Although the new strain of the computer virus is concerning and distinctly something that demands legal action , we firmly consider garden centre are essential for enable good mental and physical welfare for people who are render to make do the wallop of restrictions on daily life .
There is trivial to no evidence that garden centres are a covid transmission risk - in fact they provide large and airy environments , which have been enhanced by the initiation of first - class , orient social distancing measures - and should be able to stay open . Allowing ‘ penetrate and collect ’ service provides only the barest of business pauperization – we know from the last lockdown that only 15 - 20 % of sales were accomplish in this way .
For Scots retailers and grower - whose route to market depend on garden centres - going into the cardinal Spring season on the back of a long lockdown catamenia will be hugely damaging to their businesses . raiser are pose planting plans into functioning now . We need the Scottish Government to recognise this and take the appropriate military action to help safeguard the future of our industry . We will be seeking meetings with Ministers desperately , with a view to getting garden centre capable as presently as possible in the fresh year . ”
HTA react to an promulgation from Defra on the seasonal workers pilot film schemeCommenting on the announcement from Defra that the seasonal workers pilot system extension will not include ornamental horticulture , James Clark – Director of Policy and Communications at the Horticultural Trades Association ( HTA ) said :
“ The cosmetic horticulture industry has been totally ignored by Government in this proclamation . This is a sphere that generates over £ 1.5bn in GDP per annum , underpin the much all-encompassing £ 24bn ornamental gardening industry . The Government has monumentally failed to recognise our sector as a fundamental UK production industry , it has ignored our needs .
We are committed to increasing UK production , business owners are seat in their stage business , but we need the necessary labour to patronage this expansion . We estimate that 9,400 of those apply in the sector are seasonal proletarian , of which between 4,500 and 7,000 do not know in the UK yr - round . This would have been a pocket-size part of the overall expanding upon of the Seasonal Workers pilot schema and give a huge cost increase to our industry . We are attached to working with the Government on a Horticulture Strategy to facilitate deliver economical increase , but this command from Government does little to build our confidence . We will be taking this up with Defra officials and Ministers to get the ornamental sphere include in any future follow-up . ”
For more information : Horticultural Trades AssociationHorticulture House19 gamy StreetThealeReadingWest BerkshireRG7 5AHT : +44 ( 0)118 930 3132Fax : +44 ( 0)118 932 3453NGGV : +44 ( 0)118 930 2092www.the-hta.org.uk
