Bloomin' angry: Alan Titchmarsh calls for M25 roadworks compensation

20/01/2025 | CHRIS AMES

Bloomin' angry: Alan Titchmarsh calls for M25 roadworks compensation

TV celebrity and vice president of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Alan Titchmarsh has called for Government compensation over ‘huge losses’ caused by ongoing roadworks at Junction 10 of the M25, which are now set to miss their end date this summer.

The RHS charity said there had been a drop of around 350,000 people a year visiting the nearby RHS Garden Wisley since the works began. To date this has resulted in losses of £6m, resulting in less funding for projects in scientific research, community outreach and education, it claimed.

It added that its losses could rise to £11m when the scheme, which was due to be completed this summer, ends in 2026.

Mr Titchmarsh CBE said: ‘These losses are catastrophic not only for the RHS, but for the whole of the UK in terms of the incredible work the RHS does to help people and planet, and educating and supporting millions of gardeners to garden more sustainably for a better future.’

National Highways said it had experienced delays in 2024 following challenges with utility diversions and weather conditions and that it ‘remains fully committed to completing the work as soon as possible’.

‘We are continuing to engage with RHS Wisley on their concerns. This important project will reduce congestion, improve safety, and bring economic and environmental benefits to the local community,’ a senior official at the national operator said.

The RHS said that since the scheme began in September 2022 ‘dozens of road closures’ and significant disruption and traffic issues had dramatically reduced visitor numbers to the garden, with an overall 25% reduction and a £1m impact on membership income.

It added that – as reported by Highways – its 2023 Festival of Flavours event was cancelled, resulting in a £50k loss and when the event returned in 2024 visitor numbers were down by 34% compared to 2022.

The RHS Wisley Flower Show achieved 31% fewer visitors in 2024 compared to 2022, and its winter illumination event RHS Glow was down by 50% in 2024 against 2022, resulting in a £360k loss in income.

The RHS said nearly 80% of members who visited Wisley less frequently in the last 12 months attributed this to the works, while 63% of non-visiting members in this period attributed not visiting RHS Wisley for the same reason.

It called on Government intervention for compensation to enable projects that are now ‘at risk’ to proceed.

RHS director general Clare Matterson CBE said: ‘At the time of granting consent to the scheme, the secretary of state reviewing the Planning Inspectors' decision assessed that the RHS had a case, but that we were overstating the heritage and economic harm, and that it would be short lived and insubstantial.

‘Today we can now evidence that the harm is exactly as we predicted.’

Ms Matterson also criticised the new road layouts implemented as part of the scheme under which previous access to Wisley both off and onto the A3 at the old Wisley Lane (pictured) was permanently closed, meaning that vehicles on the London-bound A3 have to continue to Junction 10 and double back onto the A3 in the opposite direction.

She said: ‘While we’re grateful for the new road and the positive difference it is now beginning to make following months of disruption, going back to our original objections it continues to be a flawed solution that increases car miles around Junction 10 by some one million kilometres per annum, affecting the Special Protection Area.

‘We continue to believe circular routing could have been avoided, saving these increased car miles, by creating slip roads off the A3.’

This weekend saw a full weekend closure of the A3 in both directions between the Junction 10 interchange and Send B2215/A247 for the installation of the Cockcrow Bridge – the UK’s first heathland bridge.

Highways InProfile

latest magazine issue
Highways jobs

Team Leader (Maintenance Operations)

Grade 10 - £48,226 - £51,356
Cardiff is growing faster than any other capital city in Europe. Cardiff (Caerdydd)
Recruiter: Cardiff Council

Highways Supervisor

£Competitive
We have a fantastic opportunity for a permanent Highways Supervisor Forfar, Angus
Recruiter: Amey

Tree Surveyor

£Competitive
We are excited to offer fantastic opportunities for Permanent Tree Surveyors Scotland
Recruiter: Amey

Chief Operating Officer – South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee

£Competitive
We’re looking for a bold, visionary leader to take on the role of Chief Operating Officer Carmarthenshire (Sir Gaerfyrddin)
Recruiter: Carmarthenshire County Council

Clerk of Works - Highways

£Competitive
We have a fantastic opportunity for a Clerk of Works to join our dynamic NMC SW Account team at Polmadie. Glasgow, Glasgow City
Recruiter: Amey

Highways Supervisor

£Competitive
We have a fantastic opportunity for a permanent Highways Supervisor to join our NMC NE account in Kinross. Perth and Kinross
Recruiter: Amey

Planner - Highways

£Competitive
We have a fantastic opportunity for Permanent Planner – Highways to join our NMC SW Account. Glasgow City
Recruiter: Amey

Highways Maintenance Manager

£51,356 - £55,539 per annum
We are looking for an experienced Engineer to join the team as a Highways Maintenance Manager Selby, North Yorkshire
Recruiter: North Yorkshire Council

Highways Maintenance Manager

£51,356- £55,539 per annum
We are looking for an experienced Engineer to join the team as a Highways Maintenance Manager Brompton on Swale, Richmond
Recruiter: North Yorkshire Council

Permit Officer - Internal works promoter - WMF2244e

£34,434 - £35,412
The streetworks Permit Officer role within the highways service Kendal, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Highways Development Management Engineer

£41,816 - £45,175
You will be based in the Highways Development Team and work closely with colleagues across the wider transport service. Northamptonshire
Recruiter: West Northamptonshire Council

Transport Project Officer

£34,203 - £37,067
We are seeking an enthusiastic and motivated project officer to work in our Highways and Transport Service. Northamptonshire
Recruiter: West Northamptonshire Council

Engineer - Structures

£40,777 - £44,075
Join the successful Structures team, and become a vital team member Broad Lane Office, Yate
Recruiter: South Gloucestershire Council

Assistant Traffic Management Technician - WMF2251e

£26,403 - £26,824
Westmorland and Furness Council is seeking an organised and enthusiastic individual Kendal, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Senior Traffic Management Technician WMF2256e

£34,434 to £35,412 (pay award pending)
Westmorland and Furness Council is looking for three experienced and motivated individuals Cumbria / Various
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Senior Bridge Technician - WMF2257e

£34,434 - £35,412
We are currently seeking to recruit a Senior Bridge Technician to join our Bridges and Structures team. Penrith, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Highways Network Officer WMF2263e

£38,220 - £39,152
In this role, you will assist in leading the South Lakes Area Highways team Kendal, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Traffic Management Technician - WMF2240e

£28,598 - £29,540
Westmorland and Furness Council is seeking a committed and technically capable individual to join our Traffic Management Team Kendal, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Structures Inspector

£Competitive
We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for two Permanent Structure Inspectors to join our dynamic SBIM team Bristol
Recruiter: Amey

Highways Maintenance Operative

£Competitive
We have fantastic opportunities for a permanent Highways Maintenance Operatives Kettering, Northamptonshire
Recruiter: Amey
SUBSCRIBE NOW

Latest Video

Subscribe to Highways today to ensure you keep your finger on the pulse of everything happening in the UK road network throughout the year.

SUBSCRIBE NOW