Councillors’ ‘pride’ at Harrogate Spring Water decision

Two long-serving councillors who vocally opposed Harrogate Spring Water’s expansion plans into Rotary Wood at yesterday’s planning committee have expressed their pride at the decision to refuse the application

Eight councillors on Harrogate Borough Council’s 12-person planning committee voted to refuse the plans, with four abstaining.

Conservative councillor for Harrogate Harlow Jim Clark told the Stray Ferret the decision “showed the common sense of the planning committee”.

He said:

“I was very pleased and it was the right result. It will restore people’s confidence that there are excellent councillors on the planning committee.”

Mr Clark also paid tribute to local residents who he said “are very well informed” on issues surrounding the environment.

He said he hopes the debate around the bottling plant shows that local issues can be “at the forefront of climate change.”

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Liberal Democrat councillor for Hookstone, Pat Marsh, who has been a councillor in Harrogate since 1990, told the Stray Ferret the Pinewoods application has been one of the most passionately felt issues in Harrogate in decades.

She praised members of the planning committee as well as many members of the public who wrote to her about the plans.

“I was very grateful to fellow members for standing up and saying this is wrong.

“I’m so grateful for all the people who took time and energy to contact me, especially the children. It made me very emotional.”

What happens next?

Harrogate Spring Water, which was bought last year by multinational firm Danone, already has outline planning permission to expand to the west of its existing site.

The company could choose to stick with this outline planning permission, appeal yesterday’s decision or submit a different application.

Immediately following the decision yesterday, Harrogate Spring Water released a statement that said it was considering its options.

Sales and marketing director Rob Pickering added:

“We would like to reassure our local community that we are committed to keeping them informed and involved with any environmental measures and landscaping developments at the Harrogate Spring Water site in the future.”

The Pinewoods Conservation Group charity called on Harrogate Borough Council to safeguard Rotary Wood from development.

In response, a HBC spokesman said:

“Outline planning permission, granted by the planning committee in 2017 for Harrogate Spring Water Limited to expand its bottling plant, still exists. This approved application (16/05254/OUTMAJ) permits the applicant to expand into Rotary Wood. Should an application for reserved matters be received, this will be reported to the planning committee.

“A separate decision by the council as landowner, regarding any potential disposal of the site and the status of the site as an Asset of Community Value, would still be required and subject to elected member approval.”

Harrogate Spring Water’s Pinewoods expansion refused

Harrogate Spring Water’s controversial plans to remove trees in the Pinewoods to expand its bottling plant have been overwhelmingly rejected.

Eight councillors on Harrogate Borough Council’s 12-person planning committee voted to refuse the plans this afternoon, with four abstaining.

Harrogate Spring Water, which was bought last year by multinational firm Danone, already has outline planning permission to expand to the west of its existing site.

A report to councillors recommended deferring and approving the new application to expand but it was rejected following a heated debate.

Harrogate Spring Water said immediately after the verdict it would now consider its options.

The company applied to expand its bottling plant from 0.77 hectares to 0.94 hectares, which would have meant destroying public woodland planted by local families in the area of Pinewoods known as Rotary Wood.

To compensate, it offered to replant trees, create scrubland and build a pond on land behind Harlow Carr Gardens, which is on private land.

‘Not just any wood’

Conservative councillor for Valley Gardens Sam Gibbs spoke first and called on the planning committee to reject the application.

He called Rotary Wood “not just any wood” and said he had spoken to many local residents who were “confused, upset, or angry” about the application.

Neil Hind, chair of the Pinewoods Conservation Group charity, said the “world has changed” since the covid pandemic, which “has shown the importance of our green spaces”.

He added:

“Why would you approve it? Does the name of Harrogate want to be associated with single-use plastic? As a district, we can offer so much more, especially around our amazing green spaces.

“The reasons to approve to not stack up. Eyes from all over the world are on Harrogate, this is time to put Harrogate on the map for the right reasons.”

Stuart Natkus from planning agent Barton Willmore spoke on behalf of Harrogate Spring Water.

‘Not plastic vs trees’

He described the application as a “one-off opportunity” to expand the business, adding it did not intend expand further into the Pinewoods after this.

He said the argument is “not as simple as plastic vs trees” as the company was exploring alternative materials for bottles, such as cans and cardboard, which the extension would help facilitate.

He said:

“Harrogate Spring Water is fully committed to the community. Their brand is what sells, as part of that they have a huge responsibility.”

Conservative Cllr Jim Clark for Harrogate Harlow questioned claims by Harrogate Spring Water that they have been “good neighbours” to people living close to the bottling plant. Instead he described them as “neighbours from hell”.

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In response, Rob Pickering, marketing manager at Harrogate Spring Water, said the company “have always had an approach to the community and environment that we consider hugely important to us”.

‘Not on my watch’

Nigel Simms was the only councillor who spoke in favour of the plans. He called the concerns around plastic waste and the environment “hang-ups” and urged councillors to back the plans.

He said:

“I can’t see that all the arguments for biodiversity and plastic have anything to do with this council and whether they give them planning permission.”

Liberal Democrat Cllr Pat Marsh, who sat on the planning committee when the bottling plant was first proposed in the year 2000, cited national planning policy around protecting the natural environment and the council’s Local Plan as reasons for refusal.

She said:

“Harrogate Borough Council is saying profit and plastic before impact on the environment. Not on my watch. We have good grounds for refusal and I hope members will refuse this.”

Harrogate Spring Water to ‘consider options’ following expansion refusal

Harrogate Spring Water has said it will “consider our options” following today’s refusal of plans to expand its bottling plant into Rotary Wood in the Pinewoods.

Eight councillors on Harrogate Borough Council’s 12-person planning committee voted to refuse the controversial plans this afternoon, with four abstaining.

The company could choose to appeal the decision, submit another application or stick with the original outline planning permission obtained in 2016.

Rob Pickering, a senior spokesperson for Harrogate Spring Water, said:

“We’re disappointed by the committee’s decision to reject the revision of our planning application.

“We have been able to clearly demonstrate the economic and environmental benefits, as well as outline our commitment to leaving a positive environmental impact. At this stage, we will need to consider our options and decide on our next steps.

“However, irrespective of this decision, we would like to reassure our local community that we are committed to keeping them informed and involved with any environmental measures and landscaping developments at the Harrogate Spring Water site in the future.”

Neil Hind, chair of Pinewoods Conservation Group who spoke at the meeting, called on Harrogate Borough Council to commit to protecting Rotary Wood from future planning applications.

He said:

“We thank the planning committee for their considered debate and we are very pleased with their outcome to reject this application.

“We also thank all those groups, supporters and residents who have supported our campaign that has been much appreciated.

“We will now be asking Harrogate Council at their meeting on February 10 to confirm, following the massive public backlash to these proposals, that they have no plans to sell or lease any part of Rotary Wood, now or in the future.”

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A spokesperson for the Harrogate & District Green Party, welcomed the decision:

“We are of course really pleased that the decision to enlarge the original factory extension has been rejected.  Well done to everyone for their hard work raising awareness of this local issue.  

“We are also grateful for members of the planning committee in representing the people and the environment, not least Cllr Jim Clark’s remark that ‘this is where the battle for the planet is going to be fought’ and making Harrogate a world leader – not of shipping pollution around the world but of environmentally friendly solutions.”

The Rotary Club of Harrogate said it was “heartened” by the decision.

President Alistair Ratcliffe said:

“We are heartened that Harrogate Borough Council has taken the decision to reject this application and that any further planned destruction of the Rotary Wood will be avoided.

“We will, with others, commit ourselves to ensuring that the loss of biodiversity, carbon capture and the loss of community value as an amenity are fully compensated.”

Harrogate district bucks UK unemployment trend

The number of people claiming out-of-work benefits in the Harrogate district has fallen slightly — bucking the national trend.

Office for National Statistics data published today reveals 3,540 people in the Harrogate district were claiming out-of-work benefits on December 10.

This is down by 85 on the November figure of 3,625.

At 3.7%, Harrogate is considerably below the UK figure of 6.3% for people claiming the benefits, which include Job Seekers’ Allowance and Universal Credit.

Universal Credit is available for some people in work as well as the unemployed.

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Figures in the district have remained stable throughout the pandemic, which suggests the government furlough scheme has protected many staff from redundancy.

Today’s ONS figures reveal 5% of the UK population is unemployed, which is the highest rate for more than four years.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak said:

“This crisis has gone on far longer than any of us hoped – and every job lost as a result is a tragedy,”

“Whilst the NHS is working hard to protect people with the vaccine, we’re throwing everything we’ve got at supporting businesses, individuals and families.”

Decision day on Harrogate Spring Water expansion plans

More eyes than usual will be on Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee today when it considers controversial plans to expand a bottling plant in the Pinewoods.

Local planning applications rarely attract celebrity campaigners and national media attention — but Harrogate Spring Water’s proposals to destroy a section of woodland planted by local schoolchildren in 2005 has struck a nerve beyond the HG postcode.

The issue has received 372 objections and 29 in support. The cause has also found a high profile champion in former Countryfile presenter Julia Bradbury.

Many of the complaints relate to the increase of single-use plastic bottles but a council report, which recommends deferring and approving the application, says plastic is “not a reason to refuse the application” because it is regulated by specific legislation not connected to the planning system.

Tree loss

Trees are at the crux of the matter. Harrogate Spring Water has proposed to compensate for the loss of trees in the area of Pinewoods known as Rotary Wood by planting new trees on fields behind Harlow Carr Gardens, off Crag Lane.

However, environmental groups that have been deadlocked in talks with Harrogate Spring Water and its French parent company Danone, do not feel what is being offered adequately makes up for the loss of biodiversity and public access.

Harrogate Spring Water concedes that unlike Rotary Wood, the private land near Crag Lane will be inaccessible for dog walkers and hikers.

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When The Stray Ferret spoke to Rob Pickering, marketing manager for Harrogate Spring Water, he was adamant the company would not explore other sites that could be used by the public.

The proposed replanting site is in blue, and is behind Harlow Carr Gardens. The bottling plant extension is in red.

Mr Pickering said the replanting, as well as other proposals, which include building a new lake, would result in a “biodiversity net gain” for the area.

However, the climate benefits have been disputed by Piers Forster, a professor of climate physics at the University of Leeds who lives in Harrogate.

Over the weekend he published a co-authored report that says about five times more new woodland than is currently being offered is needed to properly compensate for the loss of trees in Rotary Wood.

Professor Forster went further in a letter to Harrogate Borough Council planning officer Mark Williams, saying that to pass the plans in their current form would lead to “reputational damage” for the council, especially in light of the the local authority’s carbon reduction strategy, which aims to achieve net-zero emissions on council property by 2038.

Many other groups have had their say on the application in recent days, including the Harrogate District Climate Change Coalition, set up by the council in 2019 to address the climate emergency.

The group issued a “neutral” statement on the proposals, whilst highlighting the importance of trees in mitigating climate change locally.

Harrogate District Climate Action Network (HDCAN), a separate group of 4,000 people which includes members from Extinction Rebellion Harrogate and Harrogate Friends of the Earth, wrote to councillors this week calling on them to reject the plans.

Follow the Stray Ferret on Twitter as we will be live-tweeting during the planning committee which starts at 2pm.

British Gas engineers in Harrogate strike over pay and conditions

Six British Gas engineers from Harrogate have been on strike today over pay and working conditions.

The members of the GMB union held flags and banners by the Prince of Wales roundabout.

It was their eighth day of industrial action this winter. Further strikes are planned this month and February.

They claim the Centrica-owned company is asking employees to sign new contracts before March 31 on unfavourable terms.

About 20 local engineers employed in gas service and repair, smart metering, installations, electrical and white goods are affected.

One of the strikers, Jonathan Barker, told the Stray Ferret that thousands of British Gas employees across the country were taking similar action today.

He said:

“We’re just normal blokes who want to earn a bit of money and have a normal life.

“We don’t want to be on strike in winter, it’s our busiest time but we’ve been forced into it.”

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A British Gas spokesperson said:

“We’re operating in an incredibly competitive market and British Gas has lost too many jobs and too many customers over recent years. Our business needs to change to survive and protect 20,000 jobs.

“We know change is difficult but we have offered a fair deal that has been negotiated over 300 hours with unions – we’re not cutting base pay and pensions are protected.

“Eighty-three percent of our employees have already agreed to the new terms and we believe the vast majority of our workforce understand that the company needs to change.”

Ripley dog groomer calls on council to offer covid financial support

A dog groomer in Ripley has urged Harrogate Borough Council to offer financial support for dog grooming businesses affected by the lockdown.

The government says dog grooming services can stay open but pets can only be groomed if it’s absolutely necessary for the animal’s welfare.

This has put businesses like Sirius Dog Grooming Parlour in Ripley in a difficult position. Owner Catherine Cowling says she is technically open but has lost 95% of her customers.

It means she could be ineligible for support grants for businesses that have had to close due to the current lockdown.

Ms Cowling said some councils have decided to include dog grooming businesses but others haven’t. Harrogate Borough Council is yet to launch the scheme.

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She told the Stray Ferret her current situation “isn’t financially viable” with barely any money coming in.

She said:

“This is causing total chaos in the industry. A lot of groomers are being forced back to work, against the guidelines, simply to pay their rent. Whereas business like mine remain closed as I’m wanting to do what I can to stop the movement of the virus, but I am now living off thin air.”

She said the industry is asking for clarity from the government to ensure businesses can receive the support they need.

“As an industry we need uniformity and fairness. Either we can remain open and carry on our business as normal or we are classed as ‘closed’ by the government so we all have access to the appropriate grants.”

Following publication of this story, HBC issued the following statement:

“Dog groomers will be able to apply for Additional Restrictions Grant (applications set to open at the end of the month) as a business not legally required to close but may be negatively impacted by restrictions in place.”

Costly appeal could await council if Harrogate Spring Water plans refused

Councillors considering voting against Harrogate Spring Water’s controversial plans to expand its bottling plant risk a costly appeals process if it’s refused.

One Conservative councillor told the Stray Ferret a potential appeal will be weighing on councillors’ minds, with members of the planning committee trying to avoid leaving taxpayers with a hefty bill that could be as much as £250,000.

In recent days, public pressure has ramped up for councillors to vote against the proposal which campaigners say will harm the local environment. It’s become one of the most emotive planning applications to hit Harrogate in years, yet emotion does not factor into planning policy and the law.

A report from Harrogate Borough Council’s case officer Mark Williams recommends the plans for approval, subject to conditions, citing Local Plan policies that councillors overwhelmingly voted to adopt.

It means for the planning committee to refuse the application they would need a convincing reason or risk the council being taken to appeal by Danone, which has deep pockets.

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Economic growth

Another Conservative councillor told the Stray Ferret the planning committee should be focusing on the business benefits of the proposals.

HBC’s report also cites the government’s National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) that states that planning decisions should help create the conditions in which businesses can invest, expand and adapt.

It says “significant weight” should be placed on the need to support economic growth and productivity, taking into account both local business needs and wider opportunities for development.

However, HBC’s Mark Williams’ report concedes that the loss of trees “does weigh against the proposed development.”

Political risk

Whilst the local Liberal Democrats and Conservatives have not publicly voiced support or opposition for the plans, political parties who don’t hold seats on Harrogate Borough Council have been more vocal.

Harrogate & District Green Party has long campaigned against the bottling plant and the local Labour Party also criticised the proposals, saying protection of woodland is “even more key at a time when we are facing a climate emergency”.

But the silence of the Conservatives and Lib Dems reflects the political risk involved in the decision tomorrow.

Conservative councillor for Harrogate Harlow, Jim Clark, who also sits on the planning committee, would not be drawn on which way he’ll be voting.

Conservative councillor for Harrogate Valley Gardens, Sam Gibbs, did not respond to our email.

Local Conservative MP Andrew Jones, who has commented on other controversial local issues in recent years such as the closure of the Harrogate Post Office and the rebranding of Stray FM, neither of which directly involved Harrogate Borough Council, has refused to make any public comment on the application.

Football club’s fury at plans to axe Harrogate sports pitch for housing

County councillor and Pannal Ash Junior Football Club president Cliff Trotter has described as “absolutely scandalous” plans to remove a football pitch from a housing development in Harrogate.

Government agency Homes England owns the former Police Training Centre on Yew Tree Lane.

It wants to scrap plans for a community football pitch and increase the number of homes on the site from 180 to 200.

The site currently has three football pitches and a disused cricket ground.

It was originally planned that one football pitch would be kept and used by local sports teams, and potentially adopted and managed by Harrogate Borough Council.

But according to planning documents, Sport England and the Football Foundation have said they consider it “unlikely” that the pitch would be actively used, instead advising Homes England to consider using the pitch for more housing.

‘Beggars belief’

Cllr Trotter formed Pannal Ash junior football club in 1978. It now has around 600 boys and girls involved with teams for ages 6 to16.

He told the Stray Ferret it “beggars belief” that the pitch will be removed, as the club is “desperately short” of quality surfaces to play on.

The club has a home at Almsford Playing Fields in Oatlands but the club’s large number of players means it also has to arrange matches elsewhere, such as on the Stray, which can get waterlogged during wet weather.

One club team has to travel as far as Green Hammerton, near York, to play home matches.

Cllr Trotter said:

“We’re desperate for more pitches with all the kids we have.”

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Instead of retaining a pitch, Homes England has agreed to pay £595,000 to improve facilities at Pannal Sports Community Park, which opened last year on Leeds Road.

‘Limited opportunities’

However, Mike Orton, a coach for Pannal Ash Junior FC, said that ground is for a different club called Pannal Sports Junior FC, and there are limited opportunities for other clubs to play there.

He told the Stray Ferret that Pannal Ash Junior FC would have made good use of the pitch at the former police training centre and questioned why it is set to be turned into housing. He said:

“Everybody needs a good facility. If Pannal Sports has a great facility then everybody will want to play for them. The opportunity should be spread around all clubs.”

The Stray Ferret contacted Pannal Sports JFC for a response but had not received one by the time of publication.

A Homes England spokesperson said:

“As part of our plans for the development of the former Police Training Centre in Harrogate, Homes England is agreeing to provide funding for sporting facilities, which will form part of a section 106 agreement.

“We will continue to engage with statutory consultees and the local authority on these plans to identify where this funding can be used to meet the local need.”

Julian Smith MP takes second lucrative advisory role

Skipton and Ripon MP Julian Smith has been appointed as an external advisor to a green energy company at a rate of between £1,000 and £2,000 per hour.

The former Northern Ireland secretary will be paid £2,000 a month to advise Simply Blue Management for the next year and will work between one and two hours each month.

The company, whose head office is in Cork, describes itself as ‘the leading early stage developer of sustainable and transformative marine projects’.

Last year the Stray Ferret revealed Mr Smith would be paid £3,000 an hour for another external advisor role with low carbon transport company Ryse Hydrogen.

That contract was for 12 months, with Mr Smith being paid £60,000 for 20 hours work.

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As former Northern Ireland secretary until February last year, Mr Smith sought advice from the Office of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments about a potential conflict in taking the new role at Simply Blue Management.

In his response, committee chair Lord Eric Pickles warned Mr Smith there were “inherent risks’ with the appointment due to his previous position.

However, he was happy for Mr Smith to take up the role provided he doesn’t use any information gained during his time as a minister to benefit the business.

He also said the Ripon MP was not allowed to lobby the government on behalf of the business or advise on contracts with the UK government or the Northern Ireland executive for two years from the end of his appointment as secretary of state for Northern Ireland.

Lord Pickles wrote:

“As a former minister, there are also inherent risks with the contacts you have gained in office. However you have stated that you will not have contact with the government and this role will be advisory.

“The committee would draw your attention to the lobbying and bids and contracts bans below which makes it clear that it would be improper to make use of your contacts (directly or indirectly) to the unfair advantage of your employer, or advise on a bid or contract relating to the UK government or Northern Ireland executive.”

Neither Mr Smith nor Simply Blue Management responded to the Stray Ferret’s request for a comment on his appointment.