'Completely illogical' - Scottish Government blasted for decision to keep garden centres closed despite them opening in England

Garden centres were allowed to open in England today, but are still forced to stay closed in Scotland.

Garden centres in Scotland are still shut despite them opening in England

Garden centres will reopen “as soon as it is safe to do so”, the cabinet secretary for rural economy and tourism Fergus Ewing has said.

It came after criticism from the Scottish Conservative MSP Rachael Hamilton, who labelled the decision to have garden centres open in England but not in Scotland “completely illogical”.

Speaking at a meeting of the Rural Economy and Rural Affairs Committee, Ms Hamilton said garden centres are facing the “perfect storm”, and highlighted companies headquartered in Scotland who are open south of the border but forced to stay shut in Scotland.

Fergus Ewing said he wants to see garden centres open "as soon as it is safe"

She said: “How is it that social distancing measures to protect the public and staff can be carried out in large DIY centres and supermarkets where plants are being sold and, for example, in a supermarket the cafeteria is being turned into a bedding plant sale area.

“Do you not agree, Cabinet Secretary, that this is a completely illogical situation that the Scottish Government is taking?

The SNP’s Christine Grahame also criticised the Scottish Government and called on them to reconsider the decision to keep the centres shut.

She said: “Gardens, if you are lucky enough to have one, are very good for your physical and mental health.

“Having seen how it can operate in England and Wales by cordoning off other areas with household goods and gifts and so on and having directions and arrows where people can move to get their compost and plants, I hope the Government thinks again about this because we’re not just talking about the garden centres we are talking about the plant suppliers and we’re talking about the health and wellbeing of many many people for whom that is their only outlet while they are in lockdown.”

In response, Mr Ewing said: “I very much sympathise with both points. I fully accept that gardening is a great source of pleasure for many people particularly during lockdown.

“I want garden centres to open as soon as it is safe to do so but I must respect the judgement and decision making that is taken after all the evidence is looked at.”

Scottish government officials added that the “building blocks” around how garden centres would facilitate social distancing and allow them to reopen are already in place and that the government is “pretty much ready to go as soon as it is safe to open”.