Alan Titchmarsh unleashes blistering takedown of British roads as he fumes at ‘damaging’ government step
Alan Titchmarsh has called for the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) to be compensated for financial losses during the A3/M25 roadworks and blamed the government’s attitude towards climate change.
Since the roadworks have begun, the charity has claimed it has lost £6 million as a result of the roadworks.
It also claimed that 350,000 fewer people had visited RHS Garden Wisley than expected annually, leaving a massive dent in its earnings.
Titchmarsh, 75, who has dedicated his career to horticultural work and making the world aware of its declining impact, has called for government intervention.
The star appeared on BBC Breakfast to discuss the ongoing issue with hosts Rachel Burden and Ben Thompson.
Introducing the conversation, Thompson said: “The Royal Horticultural Society has said it is losing out on millions of pounds as a result of major roadworks near its flagship garden at Wisley.”
Burden added: “Alan Titchmarsh, Vice President of the Royal Horticultural Society, has called the situation catastrophic and he joined us now.
“Tell us about the issues Wisley has been experiencing, just how damaging have those roadworks been to the RHS site there?”
Titchmarsh passionately revealed: “Enormously damaging Rachel and the thing about us as a nation is we are world leaders in terms of horticulture and conservation.
“Future-proofing the planet in terms of our knowledge and our expertise.
“Wisley, the RHS site here, is at the epicentre of that, research carries on here to make sure that we know where we are going in terms of climate, we know we need to take action.
“We need the research here, we need all kinds of things to make sure we maintain our horticultural expertise.
“For that to be pushed to one side at the behest of obviously important traffic management, we all want to travel safely.
“And we all want to travel effectively but we can’t just shunt aside our horticultural heritage in the interest in getting from A to B quicker.
“Both are vitally important and I think successive governments have proved they talk a lot about climate change, about global warming and about the environment.
“But when push comes to shove and a place that does an awful lot of research on that sort of thing is sidelined, the proof in the pudding is how much you support it and lose millions.
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“And by the time things are sorted out in 2036, that is going to be nearer to 11 million, it is catastrophic for the country, not just for the RHS in Wisley.”
In one final dig, Titchmarsh added: “As ever, it is a bit like watching Grand Designs, things are always over budget and late.”
Titchmarsh was speaking after backing a petition launched by the RHS demanding compensation from the government.
National Highways regional delivery director, Chris Welby-Everard told the BBC: “We are continuing to engage with RHS Wisley on their concerns.”