A home in Harrogate has got creative to deliver a unique warning about climate change.

Whoever lives in the house has hung eco-bunting across a hedge for all to see on Oatlands Drive, opposite St Aidan’s Church of England High School.

It includes messages such as “if the climate were a bank it would already have been saved” and “you know it’s bad when introverts are doing this”.

Caroline Linford who runs the Sustainably Harrogate blog and website, noticed the bunting.

Ms Linford praised it and said “activism comes in all shapes and forms”.

She added:

A survey by the Harrogate District Climate Change Coalition has revealed that over 80 percent of residents believe we need to take immediate action to tackle climate change.

The survey was opened to the public in February and had more than 800 responses from residents and local businesses.

Over half of respondents said that they are more concerned about climate change now than they were a year ago.

The coalition is made up of local environmental groups, businesses and Harrogate Borough councillors and said it was already acting on the survey’s findings.

Councillor Phil Ireland, cabinet member for Carbon Reduction and Sustainability within the Harrogate Borough Council, said;

“Even before the survey results came out, Harrogate Borough Council was committed to reviewing our current Carbon Reduction Plan and ensuring it will put council operations and the district on track to reach net zero emissions by 2038. This cross-cutting data-driven approach is currently being updated by officers and will be published later in the year.”

The survey comes after the coalition was criticised in the past year for not doing enough.  There were several high profile resignations including Harrogate and Knaresborough Liberal Democrat Leader Pat Marsh who said the coalition had been “plagued by inaction”.

Read more

• Lib Dem leader resigns from Harrogate climate coalition
• Environmental campaigner quits Harrogate climate coalition

The survey asked what would encourage people to reduce their own carbon footprint, the most popular answers were cheaper rail fares and more regular public transport. Over 80 percent also believed that the UK government has had the most influence for limiting action on climate change, more so than individuals or other factors.

The survey was entirely anonymous. One resident wrote;

“Every year I see more extremes in weather and I live in the countryside so understand how this is impacting wildlife and the ability of the farming community to carry out its work.”

When asked what the main benefits of tackling climate change would be, the most popular answers were better air quality and preservation of the natural landscape.

Since the survey, the coalition has announced it will be running a Climate Action Festival in October of this year aimed at giving residents and businesses tips towards reducing carbon emissions. It is encouraging people who have views on the issue to sign up to speak at the event.

Harrogate District Climate Change Coalition (HDCCC) will host a conference in October that aims to highlight how local businesses can do their bit to tackle climate change.

The event will take place on Friday October 15 at Harrogate Convention Centre in the run-up to COP26 — a major international climate change conference run by the United Nations that will take place in Glasgow.

HDCCC says its Harrogate event will include expert speakers and workshops from businesses that have successfully decarbonised their operations or supply chains.  

The coalition was set up by Harrogate Borough Council to bring together local government, green groups and businesses. In February, its members voted to become an independent organisation from the council.

Read more:

• Harrogate to host three-week climate change festival
• Harrogate climate coalition to be independent from council

The event will be part of the Climate Action Festival (CAFé) that will include several events over three weeks in Harrogate in October.

Kirsty Hallett, communications lead for HDCCC, said she hoped the festival will be fun and encourage people to act to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, help to limit climate change, and benefit nature and wildlife.

Ms Hallett added:

“We aim to involve the skills, energy and ideas of as many of our fabulous local people and organisations as possible.

“We hope the CAFé becomes an exciting period of climate-focused events, which reach multiple audiences and inspire a wide range of climate actions.”

If you would like an exhibition space, to provide a speaker, participate in a panel discussion or can offer sponsorship to the conference, email HDCCC here.

A three-week climate change festival will take place in Harrogate in October.

The Climate Action Festival (CAFé) is being set up by the Harrogate District Climate Change Coalition  in the run-up to COP26, which is a major UN climate conference that will come to Glasgow in October.

HDCCC plans to organise three CAFé events during the festival and work with local groups, schools, businesses and organisations to inspire people into climate action.

The group has pencilled in a launch event on October 1 as well as separate events for businesses and families.

Read more:

• Harrogate climate coalition to be independent from council
• Lib Dem leader resigns from Harrogate climate coalition

Kirsty Hallett, communications lead for HDCCC, said she hopes the events will be fun and encourage people to act to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, help to limit climate change, and benefit nature and wildlife.

Ms Hallett added:

“We aim to involve the skills, energy and ideas of as many of our fabulous local people and organisations as possible.

“We hope the CAFé becomes an exciting period of climate focussed events which reach multiple audiences and inspire a wide range of climate actions.”

Contact email@hdccc.info if you’d like to support the festival.

Harrogate District Climate Change Coalition has voted to become an independent organisation from Harrogate Borough Council.

HDCCC was set up by the council over a year ago to bring together local government, green groups and businesses.

However, since its formation the coalition has faced criticism from members for a perceived slow progress in tackling climate change.

Last night, local Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Pat Marsh resigned from the group accusing it of being “plagued by inaction”.

In July last year environmental campaigner, Malcolm Margolis,  also resigned citing a “lack of action”. 

Kirsty Hallett, communications lead for HDCCC, declined to comment on Cllr Marsh’s resignation but said the group’s new structure will help it achieve its goal of reducing carbon emissions in the district.

She said HDCCC could decide to become a Community Interest Company or a Charitable Incorporated Organisation which could open up new funding opportunities.

Ms Hallett said:

“Whatever is decided, the intention will be to form a structure which has a legal status independent of HBC and as such is able to seek funding to increase the scope of our activity. However, whatever structure is decided upon, it is clear that HDCCC will continue to work closely with local businesses, HBC, NYCC and other policy makers, as all organisations need to collaborate to ensure a net zero future for our district.”

Read more:

• Is Harrogate big enough for two major climate coalitions?

• Harrogate has ‘much more to do on climate change’

HDCCC also announced that Professor Neil Coles from the University of Leeds has been appointed its new chair, replacing Cllr Phil Ireland.

The group hopes the environment and sustainability specialist will be able to build on relationships with rural businesses, farmers and others who are developing natural climate solutions.

Cllr Ireland added:

“We welcome Professor Neil Coles as the new chair of Harrogate District Climate Change Coalition. These are exciting times for the coalition as we embrace a new governance model. This positive move towards having the coalition chaired independently from the council will secure wider buy-in and open up funding opportunities.”

International charity Friends of the Earth says the Harrogate district has much more to do to tackle climate change.

Using data from December 2020, the charity analysed how different local authority areas across England and Wales are taking action to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

It found that Harrogate is falling behind other areas when it comes to green transport, renewable energy, and housing emissions.

‘Shocking waste of energy’

Friends of the Earth’s research found 31% of homes are well insulated in Harrogate which it said represents “a shocking and avoidable waste” of energy.

Currently, Harrogate produces 66,048 megawatt hours of renewable energy per year but the charity says at least seven times this amount is needed.

Regarding transport, it suggested that 23% of commuter journeys could be taken on a bicycle every day, yet only 2% are at the moment.

York performed much better where 12% of commuters cycle to work.

Rod Beardshall, transport lead for Zero Carbon Harrogate said the research shows that North Yorkshire County Council should “accept the scale” of climate change and invest in better cycling infrastructure for the district.

NYCC has been in the eye of the storm this week in over its six-month closure of Beech Grove, which provoked a fierce debate around the future of transport in Harrogate.

Read more:

• Is Harrogate big enough for two major climate coalitions?
• Harrogate coalition seeking views on tackling climate change

Harrogate fared better with waste. The research found the district reuses, recycles and composts 41% of its household waste, slightly higher than Leeds on 39% and Scarborough on 36%.

However, the charity says the figure needs to be closer to 70% if it’s to make a meaningful difference.

Whilst the charity said Harrogate has made average progress in tackling climate change it said there is potential to create over 3,000 local green jobs in areas such as heat pumps, insulation, and renewable energy.

Kirsty Hallett from the Harrogate District Climate Change Coalition welcomed the data and said it provides meaningful evidence on what needs to be prioritised in the district’s battle to improve the environment.

Climate breakdown

The government has a target for the UK to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2050.

Friends of the Earth says to avoid “climate breakdown” we need to make deep cuts in emissions by 2030.

Researchers at the Tyndall Centre have published a detailed carbon report for every local authority and say that Harrogate should reduce its emissions by at least 13% per year.

A Harrogate Borough Council spokesperson said itself, North Yorkshire County Council, and individuals, all have a part to play in cutting emissions.

They said:

“The latest figures show the Harrogate district has had a 29% reduction per person in CO₂ emissions over the past ten years which is positive news.

“However, we have ambitious targets and have agreed a package of measures that form part our climate reduction strategy. This strategy outlines an action plan for a number of priorities with an overall vision of having net-zero carbon emissions by 2038.

“The most effective projects for achieving our ambitious targets are not going to happen overnight but we are committed to working hard to we implement the right measures in the best way possible.”

“Very good news” was the Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce reaction after Leeds Bradford Airport was granted planning permission to build a new £150m terminal.

But the decision was unpopular with Zero-Carbon Harrogate who called it a “massive setback” for local climate targets.

The airport, which is 12 miles from Harrogate town centre, was yesterday given the green light by Leeds City Council to build the new terminal, which would replace the current terminal that was built in 1968.

Sandra Doherty, chief executive of chamber, said the expansion will improve Harrogate’s standing as an international conference and exhibition destination.

She also called for a new £42 million rail station on the Harrogate line that would connect with Leeds Bradford Airport with the town.

‘Fantastic news for our region’

The airport said the new terminal will help increase annual passenger numbers from four million to seven million.

Transdev Blazefield’s Flyer buses connect the airport with Harrogate as well as Bradford and Leeds and soon to be Otley.

The company’s CEO Alex Hornby called the decision “fantastic news for our region.”

He added:

“We’re looking forward to growing demand for public transport alongside Leeds Bradford Airport and continuing our investment in increased services and low-emission buses.”

Read more:

• New terminal building at Leeds Bradford Airport set for approval

• £42 million Leeds Bradford Airport interchange proposed for Harrogate line

‘Such a setback’

24 people spoke yesterday against the plans including academics, environmentalists and charity bosses. Most cited the impact the extra flights will have on climate change and carbon emissions.

Rod Beardshall, transport lead at Zero Carbon Harrogate, said the decision “beggars belief”.

“It’s so utterly shortsighted. We are playing Russian roulette with our future. I’m absolutely shocked and dismayed. It’s such a setback.”

His view was shared by local environmental campaigner Brian McHugh who added:

“I would say that this is yet another example of the UK not living up to its climate emergency pledges. Why we are still investing in industries that raise emissions further is absurd.

“We have already seen the protracted case for Heathrow expansion and yet again it seems that potential economic benefits outweigh real enviromental damage.”

More eyes than usual will be on Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee today when it considers controversial plans to expand a bottling plant in the Pinewoods.

Local planning applications rarely attract celebrity campaigners and national media attention — but Harrogate Spring Water’s proposals to destroy a section of woodland planted by local schoolchildren in 2005 has struck a nerve beyond the HG postcode.

The issue has received 372 objections and 29 in support. The cause has also found a high profile champion in former Countryfile presenter Julia Bradbury.

Many of the complaints relate to the increase of single-use plastic bottles but a council report, which recommends deferring and approving the application, says plastic is “not a reason to refuse the application” because it is regulated by specific legislation not connected to the planning system.

Tree loss

Trees are at the crux of the matter. Harrogate Spring Water has proposed to compensate for the loss of trees in the area of Pinewoods known as Rotary Wood by planting new trees on fields behind Harlow Carr Gardens, off Crag Lane.

However, environmental groups that have been deadlocked in talks with Harrogate Spring Water and its French parent company Danone, do not feel what is being offered adequately makes up for the loss of biodiversity and public access.

Harrogate Spring Water concedes that unlike Rotary Wood, the private land near Crag Lane will be inaccessible for dog walkers and hikers.

Read more:

• TV presenter criticises Harrogate Spring Water’s Pinewoods plans

• How Harrogate Borough Council benefits from Harrogate Spring Water plant

• Costly appeal could await council if Harrogate Spring Water plans refused

When The Stray Ferret spoke to Rob Pickering, marketing manager for Harrogate Spring Water, he was adamant the company would not explore other sites that could be used by the public.

The proposed replanting site is in blue, and is behind Harlow Carr Gardens. The bottling plant extension is in red.

Mr Pickering said the replanting, as well as other proposals, which include building a new lake, would result in a “biodiversity net gain” for the area.

However, the climate benefits have been disputed by Piers Forster, a professor of climate physics at the University of Leeds who lives in Harrogate.

Over the weekend he published a co-authored report that says about five times more new woodland than is currently being offered is needed to properly compensate for the loss of trees in Rotary Wood.

Professor Forster went further in a letter to Harrogate Borough Council planning officer Mark Williams, saying that to pass the plans in their current form would lead to “reputational damage” for the council, especially in light of the the local authority’s carbon reduction strategy, which aims to achieve net-zero emissions on council property by 2038.

Many other groups have had their say on the application in recent days, including the Harrogate District Climate Change Coalition, set up by the council in 2019 to address the climate emergency.

The group issued a “neutral” statement on the proposals, whilst highlighting the importance of trees in mitigating climate change locally.

Harrogate District Climate Action Network (HDCAN), a separate group of 4,000 people which includes members from Extinction Rebellion Harrogate and Harrogate Friends of the Earth, wrote to councillors this week calling on them to reject the plans.

Follow the Stray Ferret on Twitter as we will be live-tweeting during the planning committee which starts at 2pm.

Strayside Sunday is our weekly political opinion column. It is written by Paul Baverstock, former Director of Communications for the Conservative Party. 

“Thousands have lived without love.  None without water.”

So said the great poet and York’s own W.H. Auden in his poem ‘First Things First.’

Water is elemental, an essential building block for life on earth.  The human body comprises up to 60% water and global water security is, in my view, one of the most under-reported threats faced by contemporary civilisation.  The World Health Organisation reports that 1 in 3 humans in the world today have no access to an improved water supply, which is to say they have no access to clean and drinkable water.  And at current rates of global climate change the United Nations predicts that 6 billion of us will face water scarcity by 2050.

All of this to inject some context and perspective into the debate raging in this parish between Harrogate Spring Water, the council and a coalition of locals and environmental campaigners over the future of Rotary Wood, a publicly accessible green oasis planted in 2005 by Harrogate residents.  French consumer goods and yogurt giant Danone (revenues €25 billion or thereabouts) has asked Harrogate Borough Council (revenues a great deal less) to consider an application to expand its Pinewoods spring water bottling plant, create a few new jobs and level some much cherished woodland.

On January 18^th Harrogate Borough Council published a report recommending conditional approval for Danone’s expansion plans; on the grounds that  Harrogate Spring Water is a ‘global brand’ and a ‘strategic employer.’  This in the face of 328 planning objections (only 28 in support) and a weekly Friday protest at the town hall by local primary school teacher Sarah Gibbs, dressed like a tree for the occasion.  It should be noted that not only do the council already benefit from an annual ground rent of £13,000 – they also own the land on which the bottling plant sits – and therefore benefit from what is known as a ‘turnover rent’ (a share of turnover), cannily negotiated when the plant first opened.

I have some sympathy with the council’s dilemma.  Harrogate Spring Water is globally known; the company promote our town’s name from Tokyo to Toronto.  Indeed, to his astonishment, a good friend of mine was once served Harrogate Spring Water at a restaurant in Moscow.  Spasiba!  The council is in a tough spot; the global (let alone local) economy is on its knees and their books are short close to £5m as a result of Covid-19.  Apparently the council won’t (or can’t) reveal the full extent of what we stand to gain from our share of any increased turnover resulting from the expansion.

As regular readers of this column will know, I don’t believe, as a matter of principle, that commercial dealings between government and business should be kept private in any circumstances.  Transparency means accountability.  In this case if we knew how much the council stood to gain financially from Harrogate Spring Water’s expansion then we could take a more informed and nuanced view of whether or not to lend our support.  As it stands all we know is that we must lose a significant slice of nature and public access to it for a meagre 12 new jobs.  I’m not convinced it’s worth the sacrifice, even with Danone’s Section 106 agreement requiring them to plant replacement trees and promote biodiversity on another site.

I am convinced however that, in a world where so many don’t have access to clean drinking water, it is the height of wasteful and selfish consumerism to drink bottled spring water when we in the developed world have a perfectly good alternative from the tap.  I’m convinced too that the production of even one more single-use plastic bottle, recyclable or not, is one too many.  Is my own conscience clean in this matter?  Of course not: Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now etc.  Indeed, only if all those who oppose the expansion at Pinewoods so vehemently, can look one another in the eye and say in truth that they don’t drink bottled water from plastic bottles, are they entitled to vent anger. As Auden says in ‘First Things First’:

“Misinformed and thoroughly fleeced by their guides,

And gentle hearts are extinct like Hegelian Bishops.”

I can’t let the week pass without mentioning the inauguration of President Joseph Robinette Biden Jr, which I watched with a mixture of relief and wonder on Wednesday.  I found the ceremony deeply moving; for me it represented a return to the United States in which I spent 11 of my most formative years – idealistic, international, aspirational.  Neither Lincoln nor JFK in his rhetorical skills, Biden’s speech was nonetheless gripping.  I thought its best passage was “Through civil war, the Great Depression, world war, 9/11, through struggle, sacrifices and setbacks, our better angels have always prevailed. In each of these moments, enough of us — ENOUGH OF US — have come together to carry all of us forward, and we can do that now,”

On his first day in office Biden signed Executive Orders that returned the US to the Paris Climate Change Agreement (in time for the COP21 conference in Glasgow at the end of November) and to the World Health Organisation.  Thank goodness.  Globally, in the United States and here at home in Harrogate, if we are to slow and reverse global warming and its awful effects – melting ice caps, famine and, yes, drought – it will take enough of us to come together and act for the common good.  The number of people on the planet without access to safe drinking water or indeed any water at all grows every day.  For the people of Harrogate, water, tap or bottled spring, is not a matter of life and death.  For 2.2 billion people around the world it is.  We should remember that when we make decisions in the narrow and parochial economic interest, rather than in the global interests of the environment.

That’s my Strayside Sunday.

Read More:

• Harrogate Spring Water welcomes recommendation to approve expansion plan,
• How Harrogate council benefits from Harrogate Spring Water plant

Do you have a view on this column or is there a political issue you’d like Paul to write about? Get in touch on paul@thestrayferret.co.uk

“Leaving a legacy” and ensuring “safe areas for wildlife” were some of the driving forces that have encouraged people to buy shares in the district’s first community woodland.

Today, the Long Lands Common Ltd announced thousands of local people’s dreams had become a reality as it raised the funds to buy 30 acres of land in Harrogate and Knaresborough.

The project’s aim was provide an area for the whole community to enjoy and create a wildlife haven.

But for many shareholders it gave them the opportunity to pass something on to future generations and ensure there was always some green space for them to enjoy.

“The shares are for them”

Dave Hamilton, Harrogate, said:

“I have four grandchildren and I wanted them to grow up with the hope of green space. I wanted to improve their awareness of the natural world around them. The shares are for them.”

Tracey Davison-Franks, Harrogate, said:

“I wanted to know what legacy I could give to my grandson and this felt just right. The value of the great outdoors is something we have lost a little with technology but we can make memories with him here. We wanted something we could pass down. This was our opportunity to do something meaningful and benefit those future generations.”

James McKay, an artist from Knaresborough drew what proposed plans for the 30 acres could look like.

For others it was their determination to protect natural habitats that encouraged them to buy shares.

“I think it’s worth saving”

Ben Thompson, Harrogate, said:

“For me it was my love of nature and natural history and the need to preserve the natural world. Things like this will help make the proposed road difficult, we are preserving what we’ve got for future generations. I think it’s worth saving.”

Gillie McAvoy, Harrogate, said:

“We are huge wildlife lovers in our house, we have lived along the Nidd Gorge for 30 years. It was really important for us to provide those safe areas wildlife especially with all the development going on.”

Read more:

• Planning decision for a proposed development in the Pinewoods has been delayed. 
• Green groups in Harrogate have united to increase the pressure on the borough council to tackle climate change.

After four months of community share sales the target has been reached. Thanks to a huge response from people in the district and beyond the local community has a space to call their own.

“Given the community a reason to smile”

Faye Harris-Frost, Harrogate, said:

“Having so much natural beauty on our doorstep is something that we are extremely thankful for. The idea that some of these areas may not still be around when our children are fully grown is incredibly sad and so we were keen to sign up.

At a time when many people feel disillusioned and let down by the powers that be, the scheme has not only given the community a reason to smile and hope for the future but has shown what we can all achieve when we work together to drive change.”