Harrogate Spring Water Archives - Page 5 of 11

Local politicians give views on Harrogate Spring Water expansion plans

The Liberal Democrat candidate aiming to be Harrogate and Knaresborough’s next MP has said he opposes the latest expansion plans by Harrogate Spring Water.

However, the current Conservative MP Andrew Jones has not given an explicit indication of whether he supports or opposes the plans.

Harrogate Spring Water revealed proposals this month to fell 450 trees near its Harlow Moor Drive headquarters so it can expand its bottling plant and produce more plastic bottles.

It says the scheme will create 50 jobs and lead to a net biodiversity gain because it will create a 1,200-tree publicly accessible woodland nearby.

But the campaign group Save Rotary Wood is leading opposition to the loss of trees, which were planted by schoolchildren concerned about climate change.

Harrogate Spring Water, which is owned by French multinational Danone, is holding a public consultation event at the Crown Hotel in Harrogate from 4pm to 7pm tomorrow (Thursday, November 30).

Ahead of the meeting, we asked Mr Jones and Mr Gordon for their views on the subject.

Mr Gordon said:

“Whilst I absolutely want to see more jobs in Harrogate, and the benefit that would bring for our local economy, I do not support the plans in their current form.

“We should be protecting woodland and preserving biodiversity; to suggest there will be a net gain is not guaranteed, as it would take years for new trees to mature.”

Mr Jones gave a lengthier response but did not state explicitly whether he supported the proposal.

He said:

“The level of community engagement by Harrogate Spring Water on their latest application is a significant and welcome improvement on their previous attempt to achieve approval for their extension. That public consultation is critical as the outcome will rightly be a significant part of the considerations of the Harrogate and Knaresborough planning committee when they look at the application.

“The environmental offer is a big improvement on what we saw previously. And that is important, as constituents to whom I have spoken want significant additional tree planting and public access to that new woodland if the council are minded to approve the proposals.

“On the face of it, replacing trees that are lost on a 3-to-1 or a 6-to-1 ratio is a large increase in cover. The concern is that saplings will be replacing trees with 25 years’ growth. I have spoken to people who helped plant saplings in Rotary Wood all those years ago and I can understand why that is a very emotive part of these plans.”

Mr Jones added:

“Having said that, it is also important to acknowledge that Harrogate Water is a successful local business that carries the name of our town across the world. I want that success to continue and to grow.

“So a welcome for the vastly improved public engagement, a welcome for the increased environmental offer alongside public access and a recognition that we want successful businesses locally. But I understand the caution about habitat loss and the loss of an area enjoyed by many for recreation.

“There is a public consultation event this week which can help further shape the proposals. I encourage everyone with an interest to attend that meeting and help ensure that the planners get the best possible application to consider.”

Campaigners to protest at Harrogate Spring Water meeting

Campaigners are to stage a protest at an event held by Harrogate Spring Water this week to discuss its expansion plans.

The company, which is part of French multinational Danone, revealed revised plans this month to expand its bottling plant off Harlow Moor Road. This would involve felling 450 trees planted by schoolchildren in nearby Rotary Wood to combat climate change.

Harrogate Spring Water has said it has a contractual agreement with a landowner to buy two acres of land and plant 1,200 saplings to offset the impact if its planning application is accepted. It claims this would lead to a net biodiversity gain on the site.

About 25 people opposed to the felling of trees attended a Save Rotary Wood event in Harrogate yesterday.

One of the children who planted the trees was among those attending, along with members of Zero Carbon Harrogate and Pinewoods Conservation Group, a North Yorkshire councillor and concerned individuals.

Activist Sarah Gibbs said she would protest in her tree costume at the public consultation event, which takes place at the Crown Hotel in Harrogate from 4pm to 7pm on Thursday.

Yesterday’s meeting also discussed developing a long-term strategy to save the trees and heard concerns about the wider impact development would have on the environment and Harrogate’s reputation.

Among the issues raised were more lorries using the site, whether greater water extraction would affect local water supply and the possibility of further expansion at the site.

Jessica Eaton, of Zero Carbon Harrogate, said:

“Where does it stop? And do we want Harrogate to be associated with plastic bottles? I’m fairly sure most people in Harrogate support us.”

Arnold Warneken, the Green Party councillor for Ouseburn, said campaigners should focus on valid planning reasons for refusal.

One attendee described direct action as a “last resort” but “not inconceivable”.

Harrogate Spring Water already has outline planning permission, which means the principle of development has been established. It is now preparing a reserved matters planning application, which would agree the details.

Richard Hall, managing director of Harrogate Spring Water, said previously the company believed its revised plans addressed previous concerns and “create a way forward together for the local community and for ourselves as a growing Harrogate business”.

He added:

“We would like people to come and see for themselves what we have planned and how we aim to carry it out.”

Anyone who cannot come along on the day will still be able to see the plans and have their say here.

Harrogate Spring Water plans reignite debate on trees and plastic

After more than a year of silence, Harrogate Spring Water has revived plans to expand its bottling plant on the edge of town.

Expansion would enable the company, which sells just over 100 million litres of bottled water a year, to grow and would create 50 jobs.

But to achieve this, it would fell 450 trees alongside the company’s headquarters on Harlow Moor Road to create extra space.

Felling trees is always an emotive subject. The fact that they were planted by schoolchildren concerned about climate change and the land will be used to produce more plastic bottles further heightens feelings.

Views on both sides will be aired this week.

Today (Sunday, November 26), the campaign group Save Rotary Wood – Again is holding a meeting at the Friends Meeting House in Harrogate to consider its next moves.

On Thursday, November 30, Harrogate Spring Water, which is part of French multinational Danone, will hold a public consultation event at the Crown Hotel in Harrogate.

Protestors are unlikely to accept the loss of trees quietly.

The most prominent activist, Sarah Gibbs, stood for hours in a tree costume outside Harrogate Borough Council’s headquarters as part of the protests the last time the issue came before councillors in January 2021.

Activist Sarah Gibbs

On that occasion, councillors rejected Harrogate Spring Water’s expansion plans after a debate that made national headlines and saw ex-Countryfile presenter Julia Bradbury join campaigners in opposing the move.

The company’s message this time is clear — it has listened and is engaging more and doing more to mitigate the loss of trees.

Last time, the woodland offered as compensation wasn’t accessible to the public.

This time, it has a contractual agreement with a landowner to buy a two-acre site and plant 1,200 trees if the application is approved. The site would be open to anyone.

Richard Hall, managing director of Harrogate Spring Water, said it also has an agreement with a local charity “that doesn’t want to be named” to plant another 1,500 trees in a “local and accessible site”.

This means the trees lost will be replaced either on a 3 to 1 ratio or 6 to 1 ratio and result in an increase in biodiversity levels, says the company.

The latest plans for the site.

It took Harrogate Spring Water more than a year since an online consultation last year to publicise its latest proposals.

Asked why it took so long, Mr Hall said it had listened to feedback then considered options and negotiated over the land — which he says “multiple people own it through a family”. Finally, it worked up the plans.

He added:

“Agreements regarding land do take quite a lot of time.”

He won’t reveal the sum but says the value of the land, on which saplings would be planted, is a “significant part of the investment”.

Mr Hall said:

“We are starting to show we are listening to the community and responding to what the community says.”

He cites talks with Pinewoods Conservation Group as further evidence of this.

“We have had detailed discussions about the type of path, the route, the usage, how the paths would join up with other footpaths, That’s the sort of detail we are wanting to discuss with the community.”

Harrogate Spring Water’s headquarters on Harlow Moor Road.

Harrogate Spring Water made a loss during covid but has recovered strongly and is eager to expand.

It already has outline planning permission, which means the principle of development has been established. It is now preparing a reserved matters planning application, which would agree the details.

Mr Hall hopes the application will go before councillors in February. Even if it is approved, work is unlikely to start for two or three years. But he says it will be good for the company and the town.

“We are a local business that is building the name of Harrogate.

“We think we are an asset to the community but also want to be seen as responsible.

“There was some concern about the trees being lost. And we think we’ve addressed that.”

But some people will never believe the loss of a 25-year-old woodland can ever be mitigated, or trust a multinational that employs 100,000 people worldwide, including 80 at Harrogate.

What will the company do if people take direct action if the trees are due to be felled?

“There will always be some objectors and we will have to see at the time what the nature of that objection is.”

After a lengthy hiatus, the debate is about to ramp up again.

Harrogate Spring Water to hold consultation event on expansion

Harrogate Spring Water will hold a public consultation event next week to discuss its revised expansion plans for the Harrogate headquarters.

The event, which will take place in the Byron suite of the Crown Hotel in Harrogate, will enable people to learn more about the proposals, which involve felling 450 trees in Rotary Wood.

The company, which is owned by Danone UK & Ireland, is consulting before it submits a planning application for the development.

Harrogate Spring Water received outline planning consent in 2017, which established the principle of development, but needs its reserved matters application finalising details such as the design and layout of the site to be approved before it can proceed.

It said last week it would plant a 1,200-tree community woodland to offset concerns about the expansion of its bottling plant if North Yorkshire Council approved its plans.

The planting would result in a replacement rate of 3:1 for any trees removed and deliver a 10% increase in biodiversity levels in the area, the company said.

Richard Hall, managing director of Harrogate Spring Water, said:

“We’ve made some major changes to our plans following the feedback we received at our first public consultation event last summer.”

Planning documents say the expanded building on Harlow Moor Road would be designed with softwood boarding, timber elements and metal cladding to “promote a sympathetic and clean appearance”.

Harrogate Spring Water has also said about 50 new jobs will be created as part of the expansion, plus another 20 during the construction period.

Mr Hall added:

“We believe our revised plans address those concerns and create a way forward together for the local community and for ourselves as a growing Harrogate business.

“We would like people to come and see for themselves what we have planned and how we aim to carry it out.”

The consultation will take place on Thursday, November 30 from 4pm – 7pm.

Those unable to attend can have their say here.

Tree campaigner accuses Harrogate Spring Water of ‘greenwash’

Tree campaigner Sarah Gibbs has described Harrogate Spring Water‘s plans to plant 1,200 trees to offset the loss of 450 others as “greenwash”.

The company revealed yesterday it will create a two-acre community woodland if it is granted permission to expand its bottling plant on Harlow Moor Road in Harrogate.

Expanding the plant would involve felling 450 trees in adjoining Rotary Wood, including some planted by schoolchildren in the 2000s.

But Ms Gibbs, who frequently dons a tree costume as part of her campaign to save Rotary Wood, said “the idea that you can offset this destruction is ludicrous”.

Harrogate Spring Water said its plans, which would create 50 jobs, would see three trees replace each one lost and “deliver a 10% increase in biodiversity levels in the area”. It is also identifying other locations in Harrogate to plant an extra 1,500 trees.

How the site would look.

But Ms Gibbs said:

“A sapling is not adequate compensation for the loss of a mature tree.

“It’s a misconception to say they can be replaced like this. It’s incorrect in terms of the wider impact on ecology.

“Clearly they have not listened to the public. They should leave the trees alone. They were planted by children to avert a climate crisis. This is ludicrous greenwash and I hope North Yorkshire Council steps in and says ‘no’.”

Harrogate Spring Water, which is part of French multinational Danone, secured outline planning permission in 2017, which means the principle of development has been established.

But it still requires North Yorkshire Council to approve a reserved matters application that agrees the details of the scheme.

A previous application by Harrogate Spring Water was rejected by councillors in January 2021.

Managing director Richard Hall said yesterday the company had listened to concerns because the proposed new woodland would, unlike previous plans, be open to the public.

But Ms Gibbs said:

“26,000 single-use plastic bottles an hour, shipped globally. That’s what they produce now. If this development goes ahead this number will increase. Global shipment means lorries, planes will increase, CO2 will increase, water extraction will increase. The only thing that will increase that they care about, is profit margins.

“Who’s to say years down the line they won’t want to expand again and destroy more of our beautiful pinewoods, and planet.

“We need less plastic. We need to protect our existing woodland.”

Harrogate Spring Water reveals plans for 1,200-tree community woodland

Harrogate Spring Water has announced plans to plant 1,200 trees to offset concerns about the expansion of its bottling plant in the Pinewoods.

The French-owned company wants to fell trees in Rotary Wood, including some planted by schoolchildren in the 2000s, to expand its site on Harlow Moor Road in Harrogate.

It already has outline planning permission agreeing in principle to develop the site but North Yorkshire Council still has to agree to a reserved matters application agreeing to the site layout and design.

The company has been silent on its plans since a public consultation last summer but today said it would acquire two acres of land next to Rotary Wood and create a community woodland if its reserved maters planning application is approved.

It said this would replace the woodland impacted by the development and deliver a 10% increase in biodiversity levels in the area.

Richard Hall

Richard Hall, managing director at Harrogate Spring Water, said:

“We promised before the public consultation last summer that we would listen to what people told us and take their feedback on board when deciding what we would do next.

“One of the things which came through clearly was that people were concerned about the potential loss of access to community woodland.

“Since then, we have been working long and hard on ways to address this which still allow us to expand operations on the site to meet the increasing demand for our products and invest further in the town.

“Our proposed new area of community woodland will be home to around 1,200 trees, will be fully accessible to the public and we hope it will become a valued resource for the local community for many years to come.

“It sits at the heart of our vision for the future of our operations in the town, fully part of the local community, and represents a significant part of the overall investment which we are making in expanding our presence in Harrogate.”

A Harrogate Spring Water press release today said the community woodland would result in a replacement rate of 3:1 for any trees removed during the expansion.

It added the company was “working alongside local forestry experts to identify other locations in Harrogate to plant an extra 1,500 trees, further improving the replacement rate”.

An artist’s impression of the site.

Harrogate Borough Council approved the outline planning permission for expansion in 2017. It was abolished in April and its successor, North Yorkshire Council, will adjudicate on the reserved matters application.

Harrogate Spring Water plans to hold a public consultation in November and will post information online here before submitting plans to North Yorkshire Council.

Mr Hall said:

“We want everyone to be able to see what we have planned and to be reassured that we have listened to and addressed their concerns.

“The town of Harrogate and its people are the foundation of our success as a business. So it is very important for us that, as we look to grow the company, create new job opportunities and invest further in the local and regional economy, we take time to listen to what the community has to say.

“I believe that our new plans demonstrate this commitment and our determination to act upon it.”

The expansion will create over 50 jobs and at least 20 construction jobs during the build phase.

‘A well-loved woodland’

Pinewoods Conservation Group said Harrogate Spring Water had “taken on board feedback” and added it hoped to be consulted on the proposed design.

A spokesperson for the group said:

“It has now been six years since outline planning was granted for this site and the loss of any green space and trees within our footprint will always be a disappointment to the Pinewoods Conservation Group.

“Rotary Wood, originally planted by local children and residents, has matured into a well-loved woodland used regularly by residents and visitors alike with obvious environmental and conservation benefits. However, we acknowledge that Danone have taken on board the feedback from ourselves and others regarding replacing this land with a proposal to purchase two acres of replacement land adjacent that could form an extension to the Pinewoods.

“The group has asked for direct input into the proposed design of this new area of woodland.

“When made available, we will review the full plans carefully, and as needed, seek relevant assurances around the future of this proposed land, accessibility, and detailed planting proposals. We would also encourage our members and residents to attend a planned consultation event for 30th November (full details to be confirmed) and let us know their thoughts regarding the reserved matters application.“

Harrogate Spring Water still ‘exploring options’ over expansion plans

Harrogate Spring Water has said it is still “exploring options” over the planned expansion of its bottling plant — almost a year on from a public consultation.

The French-owned company plans to fell trees in Rotary Wood, including some planted by schoolchildren in the 2000s, to expand its site on Harlow Moor Road.

Amid environmental concerns over the use of plastics and the loss of trees, the company held a consultation event at the Crown Hotel in Harrogate on July 13 last year.

It said afterwards it was “working on defining the plans” and would “publicly share our final plans ahead of submitting our application to Harrogate Borough Council”.

But 11 months on, it has yet to reveal its plans. Harrogate Borough Council was abolished on March 31 and replaced by North Yorkshire Council.

Asked for an update, a spokesperson for Harrogate Spring Water said:

“We are working hard exploring options to address the points raised during the course of our consultation process last year on plans to expand our production site.

“It is because we are determined to create a solution which tackles those points and delivers for the people of Harrogate, for the town and for Harrogate Spring Water that we are taking time to get it right.

“As soon as we are able to, we will share the updated scheme with the public – we plan to host a public drop-in exhibition, as well as engage with key local groups.

“We are keen to do this in as timely a manner as we can and while we are still not in a position to put a precise date on when this will take place, as soon as this situation changes, we will let everyone know.”

The firm, which is part of Danone, has had outline planning permission to expand its factory next to the Pinewoods since 2017. This means the principle of development has been established but the details have not.

Plans to extend the site by 40% were refused by Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee in January 2021.

Harrogate Spring Water subsequently revealed it planned to submit further plans on how it intended to develop the site, which led to last year’s consultation. But nothing has yet transpired.

Police launch investigation after trespassers enter Harrogate Spring Water

Police have launched an investigation after trespassers broke into Harrogate Spring Water‘s headquarters last night.

A source told the Stray Ferret protesters attempted to enter the building on Harlow Moor Road and “antagonised staff”. They added those responsible wore GoPro cameras and flew a drone over the site.

However, nobody appears to have claimed responsibility for the incident and no footage has emerged.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said today:

“North Yorkshire Police were contacted yesterday evening to reports of people trespassing on a business premises on Harlow Moor Road in Harrogate.

“The incident had occurred prior to the report being made and an investigation is now underway.

“Anyone with any information that could assist the investigation should contact North Yorkshire Police by calling 101, select option 1 and ask for the Force Control Room. Please quote reference number 12230099981 when passing information.”

A spokesperson for Harrogate Spring Water said:

“We cannot comment at this time since the incident is currently being looked into by police.

“We can confirm that no-one was injured during the incident and no damage has been made to the site.”

Harrogate Spring Water said in March it was “reviewing plans” to expand its bottling plant at its headquarters off Harlow Moor Road, in the Pinewoods.

The plans, which would involve felling trees in a public woodland planted by schoolchildren, have proved controversial.

It is not known whether yesterday’s incident was related to this.

Harrogate Spring Water ‘reviewing plans’ to expand bottling plant ahead of new application

Harrogate Spring Water has said it is reviewing plans to expand its bottling plant on Harlow Moor Road ahead of a new planning application being submitted.

Since 2017, the Danone-owned firm has had outline planning permission to expand its factory next to the Pinewoods.

But controversially, this would involve chopping down trees at Rotary Wood, a public woodland that includes trees planted by schoolchildren in the 2000s.

In January 2021, a high-profile reserved matters application that was 40% larger than the outline permission and looked to fell more trees than had been agreed was turned down by Harrogate Borough Council‘s planning committee.

The application generated a public backlash and led to a national debate about how a successful businesses can expand in the area of climate change and plastic pollution.

Following the refusal, Harrogate Spring Water confirmed it was putting together another keenly-anticipated reserved matters application that will show what the new building will look like. Crucially, it will also say where the new trees will be replanted.

The company held a public consultation event at the Crown Hotel in Harrogate last July where representatives, including managing director Richard Hall, spoke to residents about the plans.

Eight months later, the company has still not submitted the reserved matters application but a Harrogate Spring Water spokesperson said it remains committed to doing so.

The application will be decided by the new Harrogate and Knaresborough planning committee on North Yorkshire Council.

A spokesperson for Harrogate Spring Water said:

“Following the public consultation last year, we have and are continuing to review the feedback and develop the scheme.

“We are reviewing our plans in light of feedback we have received and are working towards a solution that will deliver for the people of Harrogate, the town and for Harrogate Spring Water.

“We are currently exploring options to address points raised during the course of our consultation process and remain committed to a detailed public consultation on these plans when we are ready to share the updated scheme.

“We plan to host a public drop-in exhibition, as well as engage with key local groups. As yet, we are unable to put a precise date on when this will take place, but we are working towards achieving this in as timely a manner as possible.”

At a meeting of the Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee this week, campaigner Sarah Gibbs quoted the council’s own planning policies when she addressed councillors about why she believes the expansion should not go ahead.

As several members of the committee will sit on the new council’s planning committee, including chair Pat Marsh, they did not take part in any debate or ask questions.

Ms Gibbs has organised protests against the plans for several years and previously held a weekly vigil outside the council offices dressed as a tree.

She said:

“Having finally recognised the state of emergency of the planet’s climate, it’s becoming more obvious that nature does not care for our laws policies or planning issues.

“Nature will act. The climate will continue to worsen unless we act, and we must act now. For what we do now is all that matters. What we choose to do now will determine or future, children’s future and future of the planet.”

Campaigner buoyed by show of support for Harrogate’s Rotary Wood

Activist Sarah Gibbs has pledged to step-up the campaign to save Harrogate’s Rotary Wood after more than 100 people took part in the latest event.

Harrogate Spring Water, which is owned by French firm Danone, has revived 2017 plans to fell trees in Rotary Wood so it can expand its bottling plant.

Ms Gibbs has been at the forefront of the campaign to persuade councillors to reject the application when it comes before Harrogate Borough Council‘s planning committee.

She has organised numerous protests and stunts, often while dressed as a tree, to raise awareness of the issue.

The start of the walk to Rotary Wood. Pic credit: Edward Lee @edfclee

Last weekend’s walk to Rotary Wood was perhaps the most popular yet, attracting local people as well as delegates in Harrogate for the Green Party autumn conference.

Among those taking part was 19-year-old Lucy Turner, who travelled from Manchester, where she attends university. She said:

“I’m from Harrogate and planted the trees here with Western Primary School when I was seven years old. Rotary Wood is extremely valuable to me.

“Expanding a company that produces plastic bottles is already extremely damaging to the environment and the fact that in doing so the Rotary Wood would be destroyed exacerbates the carelessness of this proposal, especially given the climate crisis we are currently battling.”

Pic credit: Edward Lee @edfclee

Neil Hind, chair of Pinewoods Conservation Group, said:

“We know the expansion plans remain a concern for the majority with the potential loss of acres of woodland and community green space.”

Pic credit: Edward Lee @edfclee

Ms Gibbs said the “fantastic turn-out was a reminder that these woods really do matter to so many people” and she feels the campaign is gathering momentum.

She said:

“Since our walk on Sunday there has been new and renewed interest and enthusiasm to save Rotary Wood.

“Members of the community have come forward to offer their support and so we plan to have discussions together regarding next steps asap.

“This is community in action so everybody’s input is welcome and valued.

“We envision future events and actions to be fun, creative, and educational. Most importantly, we hope to offer a variety of approaches to be as inclusive and engaging as possible.”

It is not known when Harrogate Spring Water’s planning application will come before the council’s planning committee.

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‘A well-loved woodland’

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