Anger over garden centres being forced to close in Scotland
They'll no longer be considered as essential retail under level 4.
The decision forcing all garden centres to close under level 4 of coronavirus restrictions is being described as "hugely disappointing."
Yesterday, the First Minister announced the list of essential retailers is being revised and garden centres and DIY stores will no longer be included.
It means they will have to shut for at least three weeks when level 4 comes into force on Boxing Day.
James Clark, Director of Policy and Communications at the Horticultural Trades Association, said: “Although the new strain of the virus is concerning and clearly something that demands action, we firmly believe garden centres are essential for enabling better mental and physical wellbeing for people who are trying to manage the impact of restrictions on daily life.
"There is little 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 introduction of first-class, tailored social distancing measures - and should be able to stay open.
"Allowing ‘click and collect’ services provides only the barest of business needs – we know from the last lockdown that only 15-20% of sales were achieved in this way.
"For Scottish retailers and growers - whose route to market depends on garden centres - going into the key Spring season on the back of a long lockdown period will be hugely damaging to their businesses.
"Growers are putting planting plans into operation now. We need the Scottish Government to recognise this and take the appropriate action to help safeguard the future of our industry.
"We will be seeking meetings with Ministers urgently, with a view to getting garden centres open as soon as possible in the new year.”
Speaking in Holyrood yesterday, the First Minister said tougher measures were needed to supress the spread of the new COVID-19 variant.
Nicola Sturgeon said, "We have a real concern that, without significant counter measures, we could be facing another period of exponential growth as we enter the new year.
"That would mean many more people catching Covid and, even without this new strain causing more severe illness, that would result in many more people needing hospital and intensive care. That would put an enormous strain on the NHS and lead to much more loss of life.
"To be blunt, that is what we have to act now to stop.''
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