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28
Oct
'We do not want it': Rotary Wood campaigner criticises Harrogate Spring Water deferral
A campaigner against plans for an expansion of Harrogate Spring Water has criticised the decision to defer the plans.
Today (October 28), councillors on Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency planning committee voted to delay a decision on the proposal until they receive more information over ecology conditions and a section 106 agreement.
Around 100 people showed up to protest against the plans ahead of the meeting at Harrogate’s Civic Centre.
Among the campaigners included representatives from the campaign group Save Rotary Wood, Pinewoods Conservation Group and Extinction Rebellion Harrogate.
Following the decision, Sarah Gibbs, of the Save Rotary Wood campaign, said the company had still not addressed ecological concerns almost a decade on from when it received outline planning permission in 2017.
She said the decision amounted to "more greenwashing" and set off a green smoke flare to highlight the claim:
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.
Councillors voted by three to two to defer the application to another meeting amid concern over ecology and information over a section 106 agreement.
The expansion would mean the loss of around 500 trees in Rotary Wood, an area of community woodland planted around 20 years ago and owned by the council.
The company, which is owned by food and drink multinational Danone, says almost 3,000 new trees will be planted to make up for those lost due to the expansion and the scheme will boost jobs and the local economy.
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