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28
Oct
Politicians and campaigners react to Harrogate Spring Water deferral
After an hour and 40 minutes of discussion and debate, councillors opted to defer a controversial plan for Harrogate Spring Water’s expansion today.
The move means the proposal will be brought back to a Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency planning committee at a yet-to-be determined date.
Councillors voted three to two to defer the plan and requested more information over ecology decisions and the section 106 agreement that will outline what mitigation measures will be put in place.
Following the decision, here is what campaigners, politicians and Harrogate Spring Water themselves had to say.
Neil Hind, chair of Pinewoods Conservation Group, said:
We welcome the decision to defer. The pause is a step in the right direction, but the application remains incomplete and fails to meet the council’s own planning requirements.
Michael Schofield, an independent councillor whose Harlow and St Georges division on North Yorkshire Council includes the proposed site, said:
I’m not surprised. I would like to ask the committee for a forensic review of all previous reports and claims pertaining to this application.
Jemima Parker, of Zero Carbon Harrogate, said:
Good to hear the moral issues being discussed. However, it is clear that current North Yorkshire planning policy is not fit for purpose when it comes to climate and biodiversity protection.
Richard Hall
Richard Hall, managing director of Harrogate Spring Water, said:
Our plans represent a significant investment in Harrogate, creating over 50 new jobs, delivering an annual £2.3 million boost to the local economy, and a commitment to protecting the local environment.
We will continue to engage with the relevant parties, ahead of the next planning committee meeting.
Tom Gordon, Harrogate and Knaresborough MP said:
The planning committee’s choice to defer a decision on Harrogate Spring Water’s expansion is just kicking the can down the road – failing to protect our precious woodland.
It’s clear there won’t be a consensus on this. When I attended the Pinewoods Conservation Group meeting, which Harrogate Spring Water were part of, the deep divisions were obvious. Our community wants Rotary Wood protected, not bulldozed.
This delay helps no one. It’s time for the council to listen to local people, recognise the strength of feeling, and make a firm commitment to protect Rotary Wood once and for all.
Sarah Gibbs, of the Save Rotary Wood campaign, said:
How many more years will this go on for? It has been deferred until they get the section 106. More greenwashing. We do not want it. We want this rejected.
Please council, listen to us and refuse it and refuse this.
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