Garden centre owner pleads with Stormont Executive: Let me know when I can open

Garden centres and other outdoor retail spaces are set to reopen in the first stage of the five-step plan announced on Tuesday by the Stormont Executive.

This first stage could be given the green light at the end of the month, the end of the current three-week review period.

However, ministers are expected to move on a small number of the current measures before then.

Robin Mercer, owner of Hillmount Garden Centre, said they still have not got an answer.

They have three stores in Belfast, Newtownards and Bangor, and are currently doing around 30-40% of their usual trade through their website.

“We are to open stores in stage one, which is great, but really no one knows if it is Friday, Monday or two weeks’ time and that’s the problem,” he told the PA news agency.

“Because garden centres in the rest of the UK are opening tomorrow, southern Ireland opening up on Monday, if we just had a wee bit of clarification.

“The news that workers can be furloughed for another bit is fantastic, but just give us a date to work to.

“We want to bring in staff for training for reopening but do you bring them in this week, next week, you just can’t ring someone and say be here at 9am tomorrow morning.”

Mr Mercer said he had been contacted by other garden centre owners, who he said are so desperate that they are considering reopening early and taking the fine.

“They are at the stage now where they are nearly going to break the law and open,” he said.

“We are not going to do that, I would not do that, but I know for the fact that others are getting desperate, and think it’s worth the fine. If it’s a £500 fine it would be cheaper for them to open and pay the fine.”