Letter - Open garden centres to give Scarborough gardeners a ray of light
I have recently written to my MP, Robert Goodwill, asking him to urge the government to allow garden centres to open for trade during the Covid-19 lockdown, on the same basis as supermarkets and DIY stores.
May I ask your readers, and indeed the Scarborough News, to support this request?
There are two very good reasons why garden centres should be allowed to trade: first, gardening is acknowledged to be good for our physical and mental health and should surely be encouraged at this difficult time.
Also, if, instead of taking our daily exercise walking or cycling in the streets near where we live, we could actually stay at home in the garden, that would only reinforce social distancing and support the Government’s guidelines to protect the NHS and save lives.
Secondly, allowing garden centres to trade would support a part of our local economy.
Whether they are family businesses or part of a national chain, they must be facing serious challenges at the present time, particularly as we are coming into their peak trading season.
If the businesses could be kept trading, and their employees kept in work, this would support our struggling local economy, not to mention relieving some pressure on the national finances.
I see garden centres as providing a very similar service to DIY stores, which I believe have been allowed to continue trading.
The current lockdown is likely to continue for some weeks at least; surely it would shine a welcome ray of light into many people’s lives if they were allowed to get on with their spring and summer gardening?
Helen Bore, Scalby