Anticipation is growing for Larbert garden centre's grand re-opening

While it is still uncertain whether the centre would be able to open its doors tomorrow, centre manager Jamie Stevenson said the Larbert Central Park business would definitely be open to customers from 10am on Friday.

He added: “It will be open on Friday for sure. This is the problem – we get exactly the same updates as everyone else. We have 60 members of staff here, most of them on furlough so we are waiting with bated breath for an announcement telling us we will be opening.

“Those announcements will also be the first we will hear if we can go on to the next stage, because we also have a cafe here too and that’s a huge part of the business. People will often come in for a browse and use the cafe and we have 30 members of staff for that alone.”

While they did deliver flowers and other items to customers over the last couple of months, it has been a frustrating time for staff at Torwood Garden Centre as they patiently waited for any news on when they could re-open.

Jamie said: “English garden centres re-opened three weeks ago – we are the last country in Europe to decide to open up garden centres. Here customers are moving around in a mostly outdoor area when compared to supermarkets and other businesses that have been allowed to stay open.

“We are very much a safe place for people to come into and we have social distancing measures in place which go over and above government guidance. People might not know it, but we are full of stock – it’s our busy time of year and our plant area is full and ready for customers to come through the door.”

Jamie is hopeful the weather will bring plenty of customers to the centre in the coming weeks.

He said: “People like to get out in the garden – it’s good for your mental health to get out there and work outside, it keeps people occupied. A study has found gardening is the second most popular hobby at the moment after watching television.

“I mean, I can’t imagine just being stuck in the house doing nothing. There’s a forecast of a heatwave throughout June so that looks good for us. May was always a busy time and the best time of year for us, but we have been closed for the whole month.

“Hopefully June can be our May this year.”

Although the garden centre will now be open between 10am to 3.30pm Tuesday to Saturday it will still be continuing with home deliveries to help out customers who may be self isolating and cannot leave their homes.

The retail industry, the country’s largest private sector employer, is one of three ‘key sectors’ to have been prioritised by Scottish Government for official guidance – published today - on safe working and physical distancing.

Following representations from the Scottish Retail Consortium, the guidance allows larger shops to participate in the re-opening of retail in the second phase of the First Minister’s route map out of lockdown, by focusing on the size of the sales area that may trade rather than the overall size of the premises itself.

David Lonsdale, Director of the Scottish Retail Consortium, said: “Shopkeepers are working hard to ready themselves to re-open safely, drawing on the lessons learned by essential shops of all sizes and formats during the past nine weeks and investing significantly in physical distancing and hygiene measures to protect customers and staff.

“This new official guidance and accompanying checklist will prove useful as retailers refine their plans and implement the necessary adaptations. It should also help customers understand the changes they will see to their usual shopping routine and what is expected of them too.

“Shoppers should be prepared for different store layouts, one-way aisles, screens and queuing, similar to that seen in pharmacies and other essential retailers.

“It is encouraging that ministers have listened to our representations and that they have moved swiftly to take a more rounded approach to those retailers who can re-open in the second phase of the exit from lockdown. This should prove beneficial to the retailers concerned and customers.

“Over and above this guidance for shops, what is needed now is a plan for shopping. That will need to provide practical steps and advice so customers can confidently understand how to safely travel to and navigate high streets and town centres.

“Government should involve local authorities and business improvement districts in this work so local plans can be developed to help set these places on the road to economic recovery.”

On the economy secretary's new pledge to extend eligibility for the Retail Coronavirus Grants Scheme to those with a cumulative rateable value in excess of £51,000, Mr Lonsdale added: “This move sounds encouraging and we look forward to hearing more detail over the coming days. These retail grants have provided a vital shot in the arm for Scotland's retailers and also our high streets which have been left reeling by coronavirus.”

And things are certainly looking as bright as the current weather conditions for Torwood Garden Centre.

Jamie said: “While we are not an essential business we do provide a service to people and I would say the only way to get flowers at the moment is from a garden centre.”

Visit www.torwoodgardencentre.co.uk for more information.