RHS Garden Wisley: Roadworks - Question

Part of the debate – in the House of Lords at 2:47 pm on 1 April 2025.

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Photo of Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill Minister of State (Department for Transport) 2:47, 1 April 2025

To answer the last part of the question first, I would be delighted to meet the noble Baroness. It would be a pleasure to talk to her and the RHS. I talked this morning to my noble friend Lady Hayman about the RHS and the importance of the work that it does and we recognise the important part the garden plays. So I would be pleased to meet her.

The Government are not able to use taxpayers’ money for direct compensation, but there are two further issues. One is that there is some land-take, which RHS Wisley has a claim for and could—and should—pursue. The other is that there may be other ways of helping the gardens recover from this event. Of course, the benefit of the highway scheme will be to make access permanently better, because the old junction was congested for years. I would be delighted to meet the noble Baroness, with National Highways and the contractors, to see what else we can do that is legitimate and will help the gardens in their very brilliant work.