Sandra Loton-Jones upsets landscapers

The British Association of Landscape Industries chief executive, Sandra Loton-Jones, has caused a bit of a furore after telling the landscape and horticulture community that any business which is not VAT registered devalues the landscaping industry.

Loton-Jones is quoted in a Hort Week article as saying, "Our members' contracts are as keen as they can be and they get increasingly frustrated when they find the work they hoped to get has been taken by people who are not VAT registered and not fully aware of the legislative position. The world has changed so much - with Work at Height Regulations, for instance, that are not just affecting tree work. You have to adapt work practices to conform to legislation.

"These people devalue the industry and make it look like something anyone can turn to."

BALI says on its website that 'the UK’s representative trade association for the landscaping sector'.

At the 20th July 2009, BALI Chairman, Richard Gardiner, claimed 676 members. Today's count (source BALI director) is 398 landscaping firms, 28 designers and 108 suppliers - total 634 members (a drop of 42 members or 6%)