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Harrogate is hardly a hotbed of activism. The Battle of the Flowerbeds, told here by the late historian Malcolm Neesam, summed up the spirit of the town by recalling how residents on Beech Grove sent their butlers to protest against proposed changes to the Stray in 1933.

So for all the furore on social media, and more than 1,000 objections to the planning application, it was still a surprise to see so many people wearing so many outfits and waving so many banners outside the civic centre ahead of a decision on whether to approve Harrogate Spring Water’s expansion plans on Tuesday.

Then, sadly, a meeting broke out. There was such a wonderful atmosphere outside, it seemed a shame to have to go indoors to listen to the councillors and associated cast. Every single person involved in the meeting was male yet curiously this seems not to bother people as much as the plight of the trees.

After recent Ripon City Council shouting matches, walk-outs and insults, it was strange attending a meeting in the city devoid of acrimony.

Ripon BID’s annual review on Monday night was a convivial affair, with a consensus among those present that the BID is a worthwhile investment.

The Ripon at Christmas events guide published by the BID for 30,000 homes highlights the city has lots of festive fun lined up, including a Christmas lights switch-on event on November 3 and a three-day Christmas market.

Reflecting on the past year, BID manager Lilla Bathurst listed the organisation’s achievements, which range from increasing the number of page views on Visit Ripon, to cleaning streets and putting up hanging baskets.

She also said the Big Sky Wheel had generated 9,000 rides — and deftly brushed over the minor fire that broke out with a tongue in cheek comment about “all publicity being good publicity”.

Normal service is likely to be resumed in the city on Monday night when the parish poll meeting at Holy Trinity Church is likely to see a return to bad-tempered bickering. The police have even got involved now.

I’m not sure if Yorkshire Water chief executive Nicola Shaw knew where Darley was until recently, but she certainly does now. The Nidderdale village has been at the heart of a water contamination investigation that has seen dozens of homes urged not to drink tap water or give it to their pets.

Ms Shaw personally intervened this week by ordering more bottled water to be sent to Darley after being contacted by local MP Sir Julian Smith.

One farm owner, with 70 horses and 1,500 pigs, spent days trying to find out whether tap water was safe for farm animals. After we put her concerns to Yorkshire Water, it immediately updated its guidance to say it was safe — and sent some extra bottled water to the affected farm. Having had so much bad publicity in recent years, the company is clearly aware of the power of PR.