Garden centre owner defies council’s order to close amid lockdown

Tony Joyner said he 'ripped up' the council's order and branded it 'completely unfair'.

The owner of a Devon garden centre who was ordered by the council to close his business’ doors has opened today in defiance.

Plants Galore, in Exeter, became one of the first UK businesses to be served with a prohibition order, after flouting government restrictions implemented to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

But owner Tony Joyner said he has ‘ripped up’ the order issued by Exeter City Council on Friday and said today he would remain open for business. The Council said Mr Joyner had committed an offence under the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) Regulations 2020 by selling flowers and seeds.

Mr Joyner branded the move ‘completely unfair’ and could cause him to go bankrupt, adding that an Aldi supermarket, just 300 metres away, is selling identical products but has not been issued with an order.

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He said: ‘We are a hardware store, that’s the definition of our business. We sell home and garden tools and accessories in our store, just like B&Q and the supermarkets who are allowed to stay open.

‘The Government have said if you are able to open – which we are – you can sell anything you usually stock.

‘We are absolutely open and ready for business. We have a completely safe shopping experience with all the necessary safety protocols in place’.

He added: ‘Some people won’t like it that we’re open, but if we close we will go bankrupt. Personally I feel like I have two options, this isn’t a moral decision for me. I will lose my house.’

Unlike many other garden centres, Plants Galore grows its own bedding plants at nurseries in Exeter, Plymouth, Newton Abbot and Yeovil.

While government restrictions allow certain types of ‘essential’ shops to remain open, Plants Galore as a nursery, is not considered one of them – despite it also selling a range of hardware goods and pet food.

The company faces financial crisis and up to 70 job losses if forced to throw away its current stock, which is valued at £1 million. Mr Joyner said he is even considering launching legal action.

He said: ‘It seems to be one rule for supermarkets and other large national chain stores and one rule for Plants Galore – no consistency or fairness being applied.

‘I want the council to explain why a number of retailers are not being given prohibition notices like us, as they are selling plants.

‘We think supermarkets and other retailers should be made to stop selling all non-essential products completely and that the law should be applied equally by the council or we should be permitted to trade.

‘Supermarkets have reported 22 per cent up on sales – they will make massive profits this year and other businesses will go bankrupt – there has to be a better way to manage this situation’.

‘Obviously we fully appreciate the importance and health emergency facing the UK. We operate the store extremely safely and carry out all procedures required regarding coronavirus,’ he added.

At this time of year the company would expect to take in £200,000 a week. Mr Joyner says due to the small size of his delivery fleet the most he can deliver to customers is £10,000 a week.

The Government’s Job Retention Scheme will pay employees 80 per cent of worker wages if shops shut during the crisis.

But Mr Joyner said while he could furlough staff in the short term, he said it would be ‘insignificant’ in comparison to the losses incurred as April and June are peak trading time. He said if that turnover is lost he can’t afford to keep staff on for the rest of the year.

‘We haven’t done anything wrong. We do have a right to trade hardware and pet supplies which is a major part of our turnover and deemed an essential product by the government.

‘Our employees and managers have to be on the premises each day. We are asking to operate extremely safely but to also allow some flexibility.’

Larger rivals such as The Range, B&M, Home Bargains, Wilko, Co-op, as well as the big supermarket chains, are continuing to sell the goods Plants Galore trades in direct to the customer.

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