Pinewoods Conservation Group is rallying support once again to prevent Harrogate Spring Water from expanding its bottling plant into Rotary Wood.

The water company, which is now owned by multinational firm Danone, was granted outline planning permission in 2017 to expand into Rotary Wood in the Pinewoods.

Danone recently bid to vary the terms of this by increasing the size of the bottling plant into the woodlands. Harrogate’s planning committee rejected this in January after almost 400 people objected.

Many objectors were jubilant at the outcome but the original outline permission in 2017 still applies.

Pinewoods Conservation Group now suspects it will be brought back to the council’s planning committee before May and warns that, if approved, will result in “massive ecological loss”.

Although it has outline permission, Danone would need to go through a second stage of the application process, known as reserved matters, to ratify details such as the appearance of the bottling plant and the felling of trees in Rotary Wood.

Read more:

• Pinewoods tree protestor to resume vigil
• Rotary Wood ‘remains at risk’, say Pinewoods group

A document prepared on behalf of Danone last year said the reserved matters application “is committed to retaining where possible as many trees on-site and relocating others”.

It adds that additional trees will be planted within Rotary Wood to replace those that would be lost.

A spokesman for Pinewoods Conservation Group, however, described the application as a “massive backwards step” from the one that was refused in January. He added:

“There is no offer of any compensatory land. That is a massive backwards step from the previous rejected application.

“If approved, this would result in a massive ecological loss for Harrogate and the Pinewoods. As such we are encouraging our members and supporters to formally object to this application as soon as possible.”

Harrogate Spring Water declined to comment.

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.

The history of Harrogate Borough Council and Harrogate Spring Water is intertwined — the more money the site makes the more it has to pay to the council.

This is because as well as paying £13,000 a year in ground rent to the council, which owns the land, the company also has to pay a percentage of the site’s annual turnover to the council.

When asked by the Pinewoods Conservation Group charity in a freedom of information request, the council refused to disclose details of this turnover-related revenue, citing “confidentiality obligations” set out when the deal was first drawn up.

When councillors on the planning committee meet next week to decide if they approve the plant’s expansion plans, they will be weighing up the value of potentially more income to taxpayers in the district against what many local residents believe is an environmentally destructive proposal.

The plant’s history

Water has been bottled in Harrogate for centuries but in the early 1990s Harrogate Spa Water, as the company was previously known, was selling just 1,000 bottles of water a year.

The company’s fortunes changed in the late 1990s when HBC, run then by the Liberal Democrats, identified an opportunity to explore water resources at the current site on Harlow Moor Road.

It was a hugely controversial decision at the time but the bottling plant was granted planning permission with the land leased to the privately-owned water company with the council taking a percentage of the turnover.

Jane Blayney was a Liberal Democrat councillor for the Duchy Ward at the time and told the Stray Ferret she lost her seat in 2002 due to her then-support of the bottling plant. She said the local Conservative group was strongly against the plant being built, which changed once they gained control of the council in 2003.

By 2019 Harrogate Spring Water had a turnover of £22m selling Harrogate water as far afield as Tokyo and Toronto.

Read more:

• TV presenter criticises Harrogate Spring Water’s Pinewoods plans

• Harrogate Spring Water’s Pinewoods plans set for approval

The local economy

The council report published last week describes Harrogate Spring Water, which was bought out by French multinational Danone in 2020, as a ‘global brand’ and ‘strategic employer’ that makes a significant contribution to the local economy.

Yet there was no specific mention of the turnover-related revenue and how it benefits the council.

Like other councils across the country, Harrogate Borough Council has faced significant financial challenges in recent years due to government cuts and now the coronavirus pandemic.

Covid is set to cost the council £5.9m and the council recently proposed a £5 increase in council tax as well as £1.14 million in spending cuts to help balance the books.

It means that any extra revenue received would be greatly received and could be used to help pay for services.

Pinewoods Conservation Group published a council document from 2016 that praises the company for its positive financial impact on the town:

“The positive impact of Harrogate Spring Water on the marketing of Harrogate as a ‘quality’ spa town is only set to increase as a result of the companies’ expanding international customer base, their targeted growth of water sales within key transport industries (trains, planes, airports etc) and their pursuit of ‘appropriate’ brand sponsorship opportunities’.”

Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee will meet on Tuesday to consider Danone’s proposals.

The council downplayed any potential conflict of interest in a statement released to the Stray Ferret:

“Decisions taken by any local planning authority are separate and distinct from decisions taken by a local authority as land owner.”

Harrogate Spring Water has welcomed a council report that recommends councillors approve the company’s controversial expansion plans.

A report published by HBC case officer Mark Williams’ recommends the firm’s plans to extend its bottling plant by 40% are deferred and approved subject to a section 106 legal agreement being drawn up for biodiversity. This would confirm where trees that would be felled in an area of the Pinewoods known as Rotary Wood would be replanted.

Rob Pickering, sales and marketing manager for Harrogate Spring Water said welcomed the council’s recommendation:

“We’re pleased with the outcome of the planning committee report and are grateful for the council’s support with this application.”

“We’d like to reassure the local community that the plan for Rotary Wood places a huge focus on supporting the local environment and promoting biodiversity.

Read more:

• TV presenter criticises Harrogate Spring Water’s Pinewoods plans

• Harrogate Spring Water’s Pinewoods plans set for approval

The HBC report recommends the plans are deferred and approved subject to a section 106 legal agreement being drawn up for biodiversity that confirms where the trees would be replanted.

Mr Pickering added:

“Our plans include a commitment to replacing the trees on a two for one basis and a long term plan to ensure they are looked after and protected. And for the area of Rotary Woods that will remain as woodland, we will be investing to enhance its accessibility and usability for the community.”

“We are and will continue to be good considerate neighbours within Harrogate. We’ll look to work with everyone around us to ensure they play a key part in shaping the area.”

The council’s planning committee will meet on Tuesday next week to consider the proposals.

Who is on the planning committee?

Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee is made up of 12 councillors. 9 are Conservatives, two are Liberal Democrats and one is a Ripon Independent.

They usually meet every three weeks to make decisions on bigger, more sensitive planning applications. Since the covid pandemic began in March, meetings have taken place online and are streamed live on YouTube for anyone to watch.

Despite the recommendation to approve the Pinewoods proposals, the committee could still refuse it. Councillors have gone against HBC officer recommendations on two other high-profile occasions in recent months.

In November, they refused a 72-home reserved matters application in Spofforth and earlier this month they approved St Aidan’s secondary school’s application to build a 3G artificial sports pitch.

Harrogate Spring Water’s Pinewoods proposals have had a huge public response which could influence the decision of councillors. At the time of publication, it has garnered 328 objections and 28 in favour.

TV presenter Julia Bradbury has described Harrogate Spring Water’s plans to cut down trees in the Pinewoods to expand its bottling plant as “beyond destructive”.

Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee has been recommended to conditionally approve the controversial plans, which have captured national attention in recent days with an article in the Independent and a passionate debate on social media.

Trees in the area of Pinewoods known as Rotary Wood, which were planted by families in 2015, would be felled as part of plans by Harrogate Spring Water’s parent company Danone to expand its bottling plant.

Talks between Danone and local green groups have failed to reach agreement on a solution that would compensate for the loss of biodiversity and community access.

Former Countryfile host Ms Bradbury, who is a well-known advocate for the outdoors, tweeted her opposition to the proposal on Sunday.

https://twitter.com/JuliaBradbury/status/1350739832251805696

She also tweeted Emmanuel Faber, chief executive of Harrogate Spring’s water parent company Danone, that called on the firm to “do the right thing”.

Yesterday she told the Stray Ferret that Danone’s plans were “like a plot from a bad nature documentary”.

Ms Bradbury also criticised the company’s use of plastic bottles, saying “you can’t recycle your way out of” the plastic waste crisis seen around the world. She said:

“I’m astounded. We bang the drum for more nature so we need trees and this is a community woodland planted by local school children. It’s a very controversial decision and comes at a time when people are benefiting from nature.”

Read more:

• Impasse between Harrogate Spring Water and local groups continues
• Pinewoods tree protester vows to lobby council offices every week

A Harrogate Borough Council report published yesterday recommended councillors conditionally approve the plans on Tuesday next week.

The application, which would lead to 12 new jobs, has received 328 objections and 28 in support.

Danone argues that the proposals, which include a new pond, a 30-year long replanting programme and a grassland ‘green’ roof will benefit the local environment.

Harrogate Spring Water’s sales and marketing manager Rob Pickering told the Stray Ferret the plans would “promote biodiversity”. He added:

“We’re committed for 30 years to develop the planting and landscaping as it establishes itself. We’ll do that with the ecologists and hopefully the support of the community.

“We’ll continue to provide those facts to give the people of Harrogate a more informed view of the work we plan to do. I genuinely believe the end result of the work will be something we’ll all be proud of.”

Council case officer Mark Williams’ report describes Harrogate Spring Water as a ‘global brand’ and ‘strategic employer’ that makes a significant contribution to the local economy.

The report acknowledges concerns about issues such as the loss of trees and increase in single use plastics but concludes:

A Harrogate Borough Council report published today has recommended conditionally approving Harrogate Spring Water’s controversial expansion plans.

The council’s planning committee will meet on Tuesday next week to discuss the company’s proposal to fell trees in the Pinewoods to expand its bottling plant.

Case officer Mark Williams’ report describes Harrogate Spring Water as a ‘global brand’ and ‘strategic employer’ that makes a significant contribution to the local economy.

The report acknowledges concerns about issues such as the loss of trees and increase in single use plastics but concludes:

The report recommends deferring and approving the application subject to a section 106 legal agreement being drawn up for biodiversity that confirms where the trees would be replanted.

The application, which would lead to 87 new jobs, has received 328 objections and 28 in support.

Many objections refer to an increase in single use plastics for bottling water but the report says this issue is covered by legislation and therefore “not a reason to refuse this application”.

A spokesperson from Pinewoods Conservation Group said:

“This is unfortunately typical by Harrogate council where ecological and environmental impact of a decisions are often ignored.

“The report makes it clear that a significant number of trees will be lost and the proposed development would lead to a loss of public amenity.

“The recommendation is still to approve despite the 100s of objections and clear negative impacts. We can only hope that the councillors on the planning committee can take account of the bigger picture here.”

Read more:

• Pinewoods tree protester vows to lobby council offices every week

• Impasse between Harrogate Spring Water and local groups continues

Harrogate Spring Water received outline planning permission to expand in 2016 but now wants to extend this by 40 per cent, which would mean felling trees in the area of Pinewoods known as Rotary Wood.

Talks between Harrogate Spring Water’s parent company Danone and local green groups have so far failed to reach agreement on a solution that would compensate for the loss of biodiversity and community access.

The Stray Ferret has contacted Harrogate Spring Water for a response to the report but has yet to receive a reply.

Harrogate Spring Water’s sales and marketing manager Rob Pickering told the Stray Ferret last week he wanted to ensure the people of Harrogate “have the facts”.

Mr Pickering said:

“We’ll continue to provide those facts to let the people of Harrogate of a more informed view of the work we plan to do. I genuinely believe the end result of the work will be something we’ll all be proud of.”

The relationship between Harrogate Spring Water and local groups is under increasing strain after what the latter described as an “unconstructive” meeting last week over plans to expand a bottling plant into the Pinewoods.

Trees in the area of Pinewoods known as Rotary Wood, which were planted by families in 2015, would be felled as part of plans by Harrogate Spring Water’s parent company Danone to expand its bottling plant.

A coalition of groups is opposed to the proposal because it fears Danone’s plans to compensate for the loss of trees are inadequate.

Members of the coalition met with representatives from Harrogate Spring Water on Wednesday last week, following earlier meetings in December, but they are yet to reach an agreement on where to plant trees to replace ones that would be lost.

The groups include Harrogate Civic Society, Harrogate and District Green Party, Pinewoods Conservation Group, Zero Carbon Harrogate, the Rotary Club of Harrogate and Duchy Residents’ Association.

Danone’s current proposals are to re-plant trees close to the site, but the local groups says this is not satisfactory as the area is not currently open to the public, unlike the woodland which will be lost.

According to members of the Pinewoods Conservation Group and Harrogate District Green Party, who were both at the meeting, the two opposing parties are no closer to reaching an agreement on where the trees should be planted, with relations now becoming increasingly strained.

Read more:

• Harrogate Spring Water Pinewoods plans: decision delayed

• Pinewoods tree protester vows to lobby council offices every week

A spokesperson from Pinewoods Conservation Group said:

“Meetings over the last few weeks with the planning consultants had been a useful forum to understand and influence plans.

“However, after the recent meeting including HSWL management, it seems there is no real intent to consult or amend these plans. Our ideas on alternative sites have not been investigated and the submitted proposal is not acceptable to any of the group who have been involved.”

Rebecca Maunder from Harrogate and District Green Party called on Harrogate Spring Water to propose a better alternative for the felled trees.

She said:

“Currently, the value Harrogate Spring Water and Danone are placing on the current woodland ecology is unacceptable.”

Harrogate Spring Water declined to comment on the situation.

Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee is expected to consider the proposals early this year.

Environmental campaigners are collecting messages in used plastic water bottles to protest against Harrogate Spring Water’s plans to expand into the Pinewoods.

Trees in the area of Pinewoods known as Rotary Wood, which were planted by families in 2015, would be felled as part of a bid by Harrogate Spring Water’s parent company Danone to expand its bottling plant.

A coalition of groups has opposed the plans because they fear Danone’s plans to compendate for the loss of trees are inadequate.

Two of the groups — Harrogate and District Green Party and Extinction Rebellion — have now collected about 100 messages in bottles, which will be delivered to Harrogate Borough Council before a crunch planning decision on the proposals next month.

James Smith, from Extinction Rebellion Harrogate, called on the council to refuse the plans:

“Local residents have welcomed the opportunity to express their frustration with these proposals to take away community woodland and replace it with more plastic waste.

“People understand that our wildlife is declining and that our environment is increasingly polluted – and they want to be part of the change. We need the council to get on board with the community.”

Green Party and Extinction Rebellion members will be in Valley Gardens, near the play area, on Saturday from 10-30am to 12.30pm to collect more messages from the public.

Read more:

• Pinewoods tree protester vows to lobby council offices every week
• Stalemate continues over Harrogate Spring Water’s tree-felling plans

Local groups have met with Danone twice over the past month but are yet to reach an agreement on where to plant trees to replace ones that would be lost.

The groups include Harrogate Civic Society, Harrogate and District Green Party, Pinewoods Conservation Group, Zero Carbon Harrogate, the Rotary Club of Harrogate and Duchy Residents’ Association.

Harrogate Spring Water and local voluntary groups have failed to reach agreement on where to plant trees to replace ones that would be lost as part of the company’s plans to expand in the Pinewoods.

Trees in the area of Pinewoods known as Rotary Wood, which were planted by families in 2015, would be felled as part of Danone’s plans to expand its bottling plant.

The plans are controversial, and the groups are putting pressure on Danone to ensure the loss of trees and biodiversity will be compensated for.

The groups have met representatives from the company’s owner, Danone, twice over the last month. Further meetings are planned for late December and early January.

The groups include Harrogate Civic Society, Harrogate and District Green Party, Pinewoods Conservation Group, Zero Carbon Harrogate, the Rotary Club of Harrogate and Duchy Residents’ Association.

A spokesperson for Pinewoods Conservation Group said Danone’s current proposals to re-plant trees close to the site were not satisfactory as the area is not currently open to the public.

The spokesperson said:

“It is felt the current plan does not take account of the full ecological loss and this area would not be open to the public. As such it does not account for the loss of public space and amenity either.

“The working group has therefore suggested a few alternative suggestions that the consultants have agreed to investigate further.

“Should planning be agreed there will still be a need for public consultation on the loss of public land and the disposal of an asset of community value.”

Read more:

• Harrogate Spring Water Pinewoods plans: decision delayed
• Pinewoods tree protester vows to lobby council offices every week

Danone’s plans were originally due to be considered by Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee in December but were delayed to allow for more talks between the company and the public.

The committee is now due to discuss the proposal on January 26 and the Pinewoods Conservation Group spokesperson said there was still time for an acceptable solution for all parties to be found.

Nicky Cain, brand manager at Harrogate Spring Water, told the Stray Ferret last month the company hoped to find a solution that will satisfy all parties.

She said:

“The delay gives us longer to consult with local stakeholders and discuss the issues around landscaping.”