TV star Julia Bradbury, who spearheaded the campaign to oppose Harrogate Spring Water’s expansion plans four years ago, won’t get involved this time.

The former Countryfile and Watchdog presenter drew national attention to the company’s previous application to fell 500 trees so it could expand its bottling plant and manufacture more plastic bottles.

At the time, Ms Bradbury told the Stray Ferret the plans were "like a plot from a bad nature documentary" and said “the trees won” when councillors rejected the plans in January 2021.

Now the company has resubmitted revised plans to North Yorkshire Council, and another decision looms.

The Stray Ferret contacted Ms Bradbury’s agent to ask if she would campaign again.

The agent replied to say:

MP backs campaigners

Ms Bradbury may not be involved, but campaigners received a boost last month when Harrogate and Knaresborough Liberal Democrat MP Tom Gordon said he had objected to Harrogate Spring Water’s plans.

But Rotary Club of Harrogate, which organised the planting of the trees that are now under threat in 2005, said it did not object to the scheme.

Now Harrogate Civic Society has submitted its consultation response. It does not say whether it supports or opposes the scheme but says there “is much justified concern by many members of the public” and “concern about climate change has increased”. The response adds:

Pinewoods Conservation Group, which manages the woodland where Harrogate Spring Waer wants to fell 500 trees, has yet to submit its consultation response.