Nipped in the bud

Apr 20 2008 by Mr Justice, Sunday Sun

STAFF at one of the North East’s top garden centres have been banned from moonlighting.

Your consumer champ was told workers at Peter Barratt’s Garden Centres are not allowed to do jobs on the side for customers.

The row blew up when green-fingered Dale Fowler was offered an erection service after buying a greenhouse.

But when he complained after panels blew out in the wind, bosses washed their hands.

They said it was a private arrangement between Dale and salesman Paul Richardson.

Dale was offered the service at Peter Barratt’s Garden Centre in Gosforth, Newcastle, for £125.

Management consultant Dale, 61, of Tynemouth, North Tyneside, said he assumed it was official.

He said: “My receipt for the greenhouse clearly says Paul will build it on delivery.

“The builders arrived wearing Peter Barratt uniforms.

“It was only later that I discovered it had nothing to do with the garden centre at all.”

Dale said Paul arrived to do the work outside of normal hours and it got dark before the job was finished.

At the time general manager Chris Brannigan told Dale: “Peter Barratt do not and never have offered a company erection service.

“Colleagues do sometimes build furniture, buildings, etc outside of working hours but Peter Barratt does not encourage nor pay them for doing this.”

The panels were replaced but Dale says he would like the greenhouse to be rebuilt.

A spokesman for Wyevale Garden Centres, which took over Peter Barratt last year, said: “We have a strict rule, included in staff contracts of employment, which forbids employees from entering into private arrangements of this kind.

“We direct customers to local papers and other advertising media listing local tradesmen.

“This is as much to ensure that staff do not put themselves in danger of accidents, as well as to protect against the sort of problem now complained of by Mr Fowler. “Peter Barratt’s Garden Centres became part of the Wyevale group at the end of last year and follows the same policy.

“Whatever may have happened in this particular case, we have given clear instructions to all our staff to that effect.”

Dale was sent a cheque for £120 to reimburse his costs and to allow him to have the greenhouse rectified.

Salesman Paul, who built the greenhouse, said: “From the start I said it was not a Peter Barratt service. Because I work there he was under the impression it was.

“I arrived at 5pm. It’s still light at that point but it was getting dark when we finished.”

Paul said the greenhouse was built to the manufacturer’s specifications and the panels blew out in exceptional weather conditions.

He said he was not prepared to comment on Peter Barratt’s company policies.