The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) has secured a meeting with Lord de Mauley, Defra Minister to discuss seeking compensation for any financial losses that the industry incurs, following the outbreak of Chalera Fraxinae (Ash dieback) disease.
The HTA will be meeting Lord de Mauley on Tuesday to discuss the current government import and movement ban on ash trees and the ways in which the horticultural sector will be affected.
Representatives from the HTA will also be attending the Ash Dieback Summit, hosted by the Secretary of State, Owen Paterson to feed in its knowledge and expertise on the matter.
The HTA first wrote to Fera in 2009 warning of the dangers of the disease and requesting a ban on imports, after seeing the disease on a trip to Denmark.
Tim Briercliffe, Director of Business Development at HTA said: “We are delighted that Lord de Mauley has agreed to meet us. We believe that this is a specific case where the horticultural industry had warned the government of a potential outbreak, but now as a result of inaction the industry has to pay for it. We would therefore like to see financial support from the government to cover the costs our members are now facing and loss of sales. We will pursue compensation for any financial losses that the industry incurs.”
For further information on Chalara fraxinae please visit the HTA website at
www.the-hta.org.uk/ashdieback