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Jun 2022

Last Updated: 08/06/2022

Environment

Environment campaigner revives Harrogate Spring Water protest

by John Plummer

| 08 Jun, 2022

Sarah Gibbs, who previously stood outside Harrogate Borough Council in a tree costume, has put up banners across town protesting against the new expansion plans.

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Environmental campaigner Sarah Gibbs has revived her campaign to oppose the expansion of Harrogate Spring Water's bottling factory.

Ms Gibbs played a major role in the previous campaign against the company's plans to fell trees in the Pinewoods to expand its site.

She stood outside Harrogate Borough Council during winter in a tree costume, urging the local authority to reject the scheme. The council, which received more than 400 objections, rejected the plans in January last year.

Now that the company has announced new plans, albeit on a smaller scale, Ms Gibbs has started campaigning again.

Last weekend she put up banners in the town centre and Valley Gardens for people to see during the jubilee celebrations. She is also considering protesting outside the council offices again.

She told the Stray Ferret she was "trying to do something rather than nothing" because she felt so passionately about the issue.

"I am trying to raise awareness because not everybody will be aware that this is on the agenda again.

"I would like to see our council take the climate emergency seriously."

Harrogate Spring Water protest

Pinewoods Conservation Group has said it is "encouraged" by Harrogate Spring Water's decision to consult with people about its plans and and its commitment to "work with us and other key stakeholders to achieve a net biodiversity gain".

But Ms Gibbs, a forest school teacher, said "there can be no mitigation against the loss of trees".

She said she often received abuse from people and was called a hypocrite, a claim she denied, but even so said "I'd rather be a hypocrite than do nothing".

Pinewoods tree protester vows to lobby council offices every week

Harrogate Spring Water to submit new plans to expand bottling plant soon

Harrogate Spring Water said last month it planned to revert to its original 2017 plan to expand its bottling plant.

The move, which would result in the loss of two acres of woodland, would create 30 jobs. A planning application is expected in autumn after a period of public consultation.

Richard Hall, managing director at Harrogate Spring Water, said:

“The town of Harrogate and the local community are at the heart of our business. So it is important for us to ensure that, as we look to grow, create further job opportunities and continue to support the local and regional economy, we also listen to them.

“That’s why we are now encouraging people to engage with us on this process, to give us the benefit of their views and to help shape the future of the company.

“We have a shared interest in driving prosperity for the town and creating a sustainable future for a key business that takes the Harrogate name around the UK and the world, and we hope that this process will allow us to come to a resolution which addresses people’s concerns and the town’s aspirations.”

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Environment campaigner revives Harrogate Spring Water protest

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