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Alan Titchmarsh calls for roadworks compensation

Getty Images Alan Titchmarsh, wearing a bright blue blazer and yellow tie, standing in a garden with his hands clasped togetherGetty Images
TV presenter Alan Titchmarsh is RHS vice president

TV presenter Alan Titchmarsh is calling for the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) to be compensated for losses during the A3/M25 roadworks.

The charity, which is launching an online petition on Friday, said it has lost £6m as a result of the roadworks with 350,000 fewer people visiting RHS Garden Wisley annually.

RHS vice president Titchmarsh CBE, called for government intervention and said the losses were "catastrophic not only for the RHS, but for the whole of the UK".

National Highways regional delivery director, Chris Welby-Everard told the BBC: "We are continuing to engage with RHS Wisley on their concerns."

RHS Garden Wisley has belonged to the RHS since 1903 and has one of the world's largest plant collections, with more than 250,000 different species.

The RHS said its losses will rise to £11m when the roadworks end in 2026.

Due to financial losses, the charity said it is delaying the development of new arboretums, the planting of 4,000 trees to investigate climate resilience for the next century and reducing funding for scientific research.

It also said it was cutting back on community outreach work and considering taking on 10% fewer work-based student horticulturists over the next two years.

Getty Images The glasshouse building at RHS Wisley. A front on view of the multi-story glass building. The sky is blue and there are lots of green bushes and plants around the building and inside. Getty Images
RHS said it has lost £6m so far due to the ongoing A3/M25 roadworks

RHS director general, Clare Matterson CBE, said: "If there was ever a special case for compensation surely RHS Wisley stands out as a national treasure that needs to be upheld and prized and our charitable work as vital to be protected."

Titchmarsh added: "Unlike others that failed before it, this government must recognise the importance of horticulture."

The latest part of the National Highways project is the closure of a stretch of the A3 in Surrey over the weekend for the installation of a pedestrian bridge.

The closure, between the junction 10 interchange and the B2215/A247 near Send and Burntcommon, will be from 21:00 GMT on 17 January until 6:00 on 20 January.

National Highways said the £317m project would "reduce congestion, improve safety, and bring economic and environmental benefits to the local community".

The project aims to restore heathland and upgrade junction 10 with the A3 Wisley Interchange.

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