Pro Designer

Appeal to the water companies before the deadline

I believe that the hosepipe ban imposed by the seven water companies in the south east will have a serious impact on the hundreds of small businesses working in the landscape industry in the south east.

Whilst we all understand the seriousness of the drought, the blanket ban imposed by Thames Water and others means that from 5 April, hosepipes cannot be used to water newly installed planting, turf and seeded areas. If you have not yet fully considered the implications of this, I have outlined my concerns in my letter of appeal (see below) and I am asking for a discretionary period for new garden installations.

All the water companies have a consulting period where representations or appeals can be made. The deadline for representations for Thames Water is 21 March (in writing to: Public Consultations Team, 2nd East, Thames Water, Clearwater Court, Reading, RG1 8DB - or by email to consultations@thameswater.co.uk). Check your water company for their deadlines and addresses. 

I urge LJN members in the south east affected by this (there must be hundreds) to write to their water companies (please feel free to adapt my letter for your own business case if it helps). If there are enough people appealing and asking for a discretionary period, maybe our voices will be heard.

As an open association LJN is a voice in the industry and actively supports small businesses - a letter from LJN on behalf of its members in the south east may carry more weight. Strength in numbers?

My appeal letter is now in the Business Objectives Group

Water companies in the United Kingdom

Tags: ban, businesses, designers, drought, garden, hosepipe, landscapers, small

Views: 3583

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Replies to This Discussion


PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Stephen Budgett on April 4, 2012 at 19:24

That's great news Phil - thanks for all your hard work. Let's hope the Water Companies eventually exempt gardeners/landscapers from the restrictions.


Pro DesignerPermalink Reply by Marie-Plews Garden Design on April 4, 2012 at 19:32

lots of hard work been done excellent result - but dont let a few do all the work the rest of us can get tweeting / facebooking etc so people outside our profession are ready to watch and listen - and maybe add their voices to ours


Pro DesignerPermalink Reply by Jenny Bloom on April 4, 2012 at 22:06

Well done Phil - that's brilliant - and many thanks to Ben and Caro for volunteering to be our spokespeople and being brave enough to go on the telly! Hope it all goes well...


Pro DesignerPermalink Reply by Jenny Bloom on April 4, 2012 at 22:10

Just to say thank you to everyone who has been busy tweeting, facebooking, writing to water companies, MPs etc and generally raising awareness. Fantastic team work and proof how fantastic this network community is!


PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Austin Powell-Allen on April 4, 2012 at 22:36

Great news Phil Thank you for all your hard work and it just shows what can happen when we all pull together even though some of us are in competition.


PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Claire Brown on April 4, 2012 at 23:18

thanks for all your hard work Phil, - I hope this gets a good result, - I was also asked to take part in a BBC piece for tomorrow on the effect that the hosepipe ban will have on community gardeners, - I declined, because basically they wanted pictures of my son with a watering can and for me to say how difficult it will make it for my allotment garden. - I told the press office of the NT (owners of the community garden/allotment) that I think the hosepipe ban is a lot less of an issue for private gardeners than it is for professionals that rely on planting for their living!


PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Phil Voice on April 5, 2012 at 7:25

Thanks everyone.

I assure you other LJN members are working hard on this too.

I have to apologise for keeping the BBC & C4 a bit of a secret from the majority of you. I hope you'll understand that I want LJN to get credit for its initiatives.

Hopefully there's more to come in the next day or two:)


Premium SupplierPermalink Reply by Tim Royce on April 5, 2012 at 8:42

The hosepipe ban is know on, we are in a new trading environment as of today and the indications are that the ban will be all year even with a wet summer, so we have to adapt or go out of business.  Planting plans do not have to be stopped projects can go forward; think positively your clients will be open to suggestions about ways of overcoming the ban. We are a nation that does adapt to anything sent to try us.

There is no restriction on using water as long as it drip irrigation with a timer and pressure reducer, this should give you all an extra line of income.  Include in your quotes drip irrigation, it is easy to install, you should water in the plants initially but the drip irrigation will take over after that.  Turf can also be irrigated using drip irrigation; in fact we are installing 1500metres of drip pipe for a new lawn at the moment.  Once you know how simple installing drip is you will be amazed why you have not used it before. Drip pipe in a border is quick and easy to install and can be put in before or after planting. Drip pipe is only one method of supplying drip there are other methods that can be adapted to cater for hanging baskets and patio tubs

Hosepipe watering is an inefficient  way of watering as you cannot evenly distribute the water by hand, there is also the cost of employing somebody to walk around with the hosepipe, irrigation will establish new plantings quickly and with mulch to keep the weeds down and the moisture in it’s a winner all-round. Happy customers and sustained work throughout the drought,

Royce Turf and irrigation will be only too pleased to give advice on all aspects of irrigation; we have information on our website www. Royceturf.co.uk and two shops one at Cedar Nursery Cobham and the other at Silverlands Stone Chertsey plus an online shop.  We can install, design and supply systems. We already serve landscapers who put in their own systems and have done so  for many years

So if you want help please contact us,


PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Phil Voice on April 5, 2012 at 8:49

"Turf can also be irrigated using drip irrigation; in fact we are installing 1500metres of drip pipe for a new lawn at the moment."

Tim, can you add some photos to illustrate how a drip irrigation system can be used to water turf? I'm sure many of us would be interested in how easy it is to install and how effective a drip irrigations system is.

If it works I'd be happy to promote the benefits.

One other question comes to mind. How long does it take to order and fit a water meter from your local water supplier?


Tim Royce said:

The hosepipe ban is know on, we are in a new trading environment as of today and the indications are that the ban will be all year even with a wet summer, so we have to adapt or go out of business.  Planting plans do not have to be stopped projects can go forward; think positively your clients will be open to suggestions about ways of overcoming the ban. We are a nation that does adapt to anything sent to try us.

There is no restriction on using water as long as it drip irrigation with a timer and pressure reducer, this should give you all an extra line of income.  Include in your quotes drip irrigation, it is easy to install, you should water in the plants initially but the drip irrigation will take over after that.  Turf can also be irrigated using drip irrigation; in fact we are installing 1500metres of drip pipe for a new lawn at the moment.  Once you know how simple installing drip is you will be amazed why you have not used it before. Drip pipe in a border is quick and easy to install and can be put in before or after planting. Drip pipe is only one method of supplying drip there are other methods that can be adapted to cater for hanging baskets and patio tubs

Hosepipe watering is an inefficient  way of watering as you cannot evenly distribute the water by hand, there is also the cost of employing somebody to walk around with the hosepipe, irrigation will establish new plantings quickly and with mulch to keep the weeds down and the moisture in it’s a winner all-round. Happy customers and sustained work throughout the drought,

Royce Turf and irrigation will be only too pleased to give advice on all aspects of irrigation; we have information on our website www. Royceturf.co.uk and two shops one at Cedar Nursery Cobham and the other at Silverlands Stone Chertsey plus an online shop.  We can install, design and supply systems. We already serve landscapers who put in their own systems and have done so  for many years

So if you want help please contact us,


Premium SupplierPermalink Reply by Tim Royce on April 5, 2012 at 9:35
We have taken pictures of the install and will post them up as soon as I can , we are hoping to video the next one we do,

PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Phil Voice on April 9, 2012 at 19:49

We are looking into whether the hosepipe ban and consultation process is actually legal. Early indications are that it is not.


Pro DesignerPermalink Reply by Jenny Bloom on April 9, 2012 at 20:22

Really?!!

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