Harrogate will have its name linked to the 150th anniversary of the Royal Albert Hall in London – and aspiring artists are also being invited to get involved.

To mark the venue’s milestone, Harrogate Spring Water is planning to create limited-edition anniversary labels for its bottles, to be sold at the Royal Albert Hall and selected other outlets.

To come up with the perfect design to showcase the diverse culture of the venue, Harrogate Spring Water (HSW) is calling for creatives to help. An expert panel, including representatives from HSW and the Royal Albert Hall, will nominate a shortlist and choose the winning design, with a prize of a £4,000 creative bursary. Two finalists will receive a £1,000 bursary.

James Cain OBE, CEO of Harrogate Spring Water, said:

“We are so pleased to be able to offer talented creatives across the UK the opportunity to feature on our bottle; we understand just how important it is to support the Arts and Creative industry during this time.”

“The 150^th anniversary of the Royal Albert Hall is such a special milestone and its fantastic to be able to celebrate our valued partnership with such an iconic and historic institution. We cannot wait to see the designs!”

During 2021 and 2022, the Royal Albert Hall celebrates its 150th birthday, with a special programme of events including major commissions from British artists, headline performances from musical legends, and a series of showcases promoting the next generation of talent.

In its long history, the Royal Albert Hall has hosted great works of art and design including an 800-feet-long mosaic frieze encircling the building, a Picasso-designed programme cover in 1937 and a 2014 mural by Sir Peter Blake celebrating the venue’s diverse history.

In 2021 and 2022, as it marks its 150th birthday, its programme of events will include major commissions from British artists, headline performances from musical legends and a series of showcases promoting the next generation of talent.

Read more:

• Designs for new Knaresborough museum revealed
• StrayArt with Johnny Messum: Photography

Harrogate Spring Water is an official partner of the celebrations and its 500ml still and sparkling bottles will feature the commemorative labels this year and next. Artists are encouraged to use colour to reflect the diversity of culture at the Royal Albert Hall.

Craig Hassall, chief executive of the Royal Albert Hall, said:

“We’re delighted to launch this one-of-a-kind design competition as part of our 150th anniversary celebrations.

“The Hall has been a meeting place – and an inspiration – for artists of all kinds since we opened in 1871, and we can’t wait to see how contemporary creatives interpret our diverse history. We’d like to thank our friends at Harrogate Spring Water for helping us mark this milestone in such an inventive and unusual way.”

For more information about the competition, click here.

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.

A Knaresborough woman is to don her tree costume once again and resume her protest against Harrogate’s Spring Water‘s plans to expand into the Pinewoods.

Sarah Gibbs braved the cold on Fridays throughout December and January by dressing as a tree outside Harrogate Borough Council‘s civic centre at Knapping Mount.

Ms Gibbs halted her protest when the council’s planning committee voted last month to refuse Harrogate Spring Water’s plans to expand its bottling plant into Rotary Wood.

However, she has changed her mind because she believes the battle has not yet been won.

Harrogate Spring Water’s parent company Danone has still not indicated whether to appeal the refusal, submit another application or stick with the original outline planning permission it received in 2016 to remove a smaller section of trees in Rotary Wood.

If it decides to proceed with the original outline planning permission it would need to submit a full application before May, which would again be considered by the planning committee.

Read more:

• How Harrogate Borough Council benefits from Harrogate Spring Water plant

• Rotary Wood ‘remains at risk’, say Pinewoods group

Ms Gibbs said:

“I want to make sure the council knows that the public eye is still on this and that I’m not just going to go away and be quiet.

“The protest is to show the council that I’m still here. I’m not going away quietly and I don’t want this swept under the rug.”

Campaigners say Harrogate’s Rotary Wood “remains at risk” after a senior Harrogate borough councillor said it would be “premature” to comment on a future sale of the site.

There have been calls to protect the wood after Harrogate Borough Council’s 12-person planning committee voted to refuse Harrogate Spring Water’s controversial plans to expand its bottling plant, which would have involved the loss of more trees at the woodland.

The company already has outline planning permission to expand into the wood, but applied for a revised application for a bottling plant that was 22% larger than originally agreed.

HBC owns the Harrogate Spring Water site on Harlow Moor Road and leases it back to them.

At last night’s full council meeting, Neil Hind, chair of the Pinewoods Conservation Group, asked Cllr Graham Swift, cabinet member for economic development, if HBC would commit to retaining Rotary Wood  “with no plan to lease or sell it” in the future.

Cllr Graham Swift responding to the Pinewoods Conservation Group last night.

In response, Cllr Swift said he was “personally surprised” by the committee’s decision to refuse the extension, but added that the reserved matters application still had to be determined.

He said:

“A key component about the council making any decision about a potential disposal of land is to ensure that we have access to the full facts so that all the relevant considerations can be taken into account.

“The planning status of the site is one of these considerations. Therefore, as the reserved matters application is still to be determined by planning committee it would be premature at this stage to comment on a potential future disposal.

“Equally, it would be wrong of me to interfere with planning matters or attempt to override planning decisions by causing obstruction to their decisions.

“Our committee has already taken a decision to approve one application from a significant local business and although reserved matters are still to be dealt with, I’m not prepared to interfere with the planning process or limit it in its powers.”

He added that should the council decide to lease or sell the site it would “abide by proper procedures”, including considering an asset of community value status.

Read more:

• Harrogate Spring Water’s Pinewoods expansion refused

• Harrogate Spring Water to ‘consider options’ following expansion refusal

Following the meeting, a spokesperson for Pinewoods Conservation Group said:

“The fact the response was via the cabinet member for resources, enterprise and economic development is a clear indication of the council’s priorities and intent here.

“We were obviously very disappointed by the reply from Cllr Swift who is obviously very supportive of the development plans.

“This was an opportunity for the council to confirm once and for all its green intentions and it unfortunately failed to do so. As such it is unfortunate that Rotary Wood, planted by the community, remains at risk.“

What happens next?

Harrogate Spring Water has already said it will consider its options following last month’s decision.

The company could choose to appeal the decision, submit another application or stick with the original outline planning permission obtained in 2016.

If they decide to proceed with the original outline planning permission they need to submit a full application before May, which would again be considered by HBC’s planning committee.

In 2015 the Pinewoods was registered as an Asset of Community Value. This would give the local community a chance to buy or lease the site if the council decided they wanted to dispose of it.

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

Shock news this week from Harrogate Borough Council; the elected body voted to do the right thing!

With 8 councillors voting against and with 4 abstentions, the planning committee turned down Danone’s application to expand the footprint of the Harrogate Spring Water plant at the Pinewoods; notwithstanding being presented with a report for consideration that gave outline approval to do just that.  This represents a real victory for the Harrogate environmental coalition that campaigned against it.  By mobilising so effectively they have stopped the felling of Rotary Wood, the public access oasis at the site, beloved of local walkers, dogs and assorted wildlife.  Mother nature and local residents will be pleased.

Our councillors must have arrived at the conclusion that the opportunity cost of the creation of a dozen new jobs and an uptick in the revenue and ground rent that HBC receives from Danone (but won’t report because it is bound by a “commercially sensitive” and therefore confidential agreement) did not compensate for their likely discomfort at the hands of their constituents.

It may also be that the sword of Damocles represented by the likely swallowing of HBC in the pending devolved authority looms large and threatens the comfy sinecures of our elected councillors.  Accordingly, they need to get some credits on the record before the candidacies for the new body are doled out.  Still, good on them, the decision they have taken is obviously correct.  More such please and, until then, the rest of us should more drink water from the tap and less from single use plastic.

As a child I attended church and Sunday school assiduously (Church of England and Anglo-Catholic).  Now in my early fifties, I returned to worship 2 years ago (very much Anglo-Catholic) and was confirmed.  Attending gives me respite and comfort, even and especially in current circumstances, where face masks are required, congregational singing is banned, the organ is silent, the choir temporarily disbanded, the pews occupied one at each end and when the vicar races through the liturgy in 26 minutes flat.  The censer smells have gone, the bells remain.

I am not a fan of the current head of the church of all England, the 105^th Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Portal Welby.  For one thing he is from the evangelical wing of the church and, given my domestic circumstances, I’m rather hopeful that come judgement day my preference for a New Testament reading of the bible proves justified.  This week Archbishop Welby saw fit to proclaim that Boris Johnson should relocate from Downing Street to Westminster Abbey and, ad orientem, pray for forgiveness.

Now, I grant you Boris is a bit of a lad.  As we know he has fathered an unspecified number of children with an unspecified number of women, both in and out of wedlock.  He is an admitted adulterer.  We know too that he is unafraid to tell porkies; I for one am still waiting for the £350m per week from Europe for the NHS that he promised on the side of a bus during the European referendum campaign.

But did Archbishop Welby suggest these sins should be the basis of BoJo’s penitence?  He did not.  Rather he was passing judgement on the Prime Minister’s motives and performance throughout the Covid-19 crisis.  When I heard this on the car radio I felt a flash of real anger and was halfway through shouting at the dash that “Justin Welby is a complete…(insert expletive of your choice here)” before I was able to get a grip of myself and not vocalise the last and profane word in the sentence.   God forgive me.  I think He will, after all Mr. Welby is just a man, not a politician and should respect the notion of the separation of church and state.

Covid-19 has tested our generation and its government in ways we did not imagine nor plan for.  Have we responded faultlessly as a people to the privations of the pandemic?   We have not.  Has the government’s performance been perfect, or even consistent?  It has not.  With now over 100,000 UK fatalities and one of the highest death rates in the world, come the inevitable public enquiry there will be much warranted criticism and, that horrible and over-used political phrase, “lessons learned”.  However, the United Kingdom led the world in rolling out mass testing and now leads the world in rolling out mass vaccinations.  We should be rightly proud of both.

My radio incident occurred on Thursday when I was driving to have my own Covid-19 vaccination (I’m on the clinically vulnerable list).  On arrival I was met with kindness, tender care and ruthless efficiency.  My heart jumped for joy when I saw that I was to receive the Oxford vaccine; home grown, developed on established and proven technology and with an efficacy of greater than 90%.  I was admitted early, because there had been more than a few “no shows” (yes, really; people are not showing up for their scheduled vaccinations).  In fact I found the whole experience strangely emotional; this is a long way from over, but I felt, for the first time, the relief and joy that the prospects exist for a return to some form of normality.

My hope is for a “new normal” in which we (individually and collectively) take our justified share of responsibility and confront the truth; our Covid-19 death rate is one of the highest in the world because our rates of obesity and related, avoidable chronic conditions are among the highest in the world.

A new normal in which extremes of perspective are voiced less vehemently and receive less attention:  One in which we can congratulate a government for its accomplishments while constructively criticising its failures.  One in which we can thank our national government for its vaccination planning and foresight and turn up to receive our dose so that it does not go to waste.  One in which we can thank our local government for choosing the common good of the environment over the narrow profit of business.  Kinder and better.

That’s my Strayside Sunday.

Read More: 

• Harrogate Spring Water’s Pinewoods expansion plans refused
• Councillor’s “pride” at Harrogate Spring Water decision

Harrogate Spring Water’s controversial plans to remove trees in the Pinewoods to expand its bottling plant have been overwhelmingly rejected.

Eight councillors on Harrogate Borough Council’s 12-person planning committee voted to refuse the plans this afternoon, with four abstaining.

Harrogate Spring Water, which was bought last year by multinational firm Danone, already has outline planning permission to expand to the west of its existing site.

A report to councillors recommended deferring and approving the new application to expand but it was rejected following a heated debate.

Harrogate Spring Water said immediately after the verdict it would now consider its options.

The company applied to expand its bottling plant from 0.77 hectares to 0.94 hectares, which would have meant destroying public woodland planted by local families in the area of Pinewoods known as Rotary Wood.

To compensate, it offered to replant trees, create scrubland and build a pond on land behind Harlow Carr Gardens, which is on private land.

‘Not just any wood’

Conservative councillor for Valley Gardens Sam Gibbs spoke first and called on the planning committee to reject the application.

He called Rotary Wood “not just any wood” and said he had spoken to many local residents who were “confused, upset, or angry” about the application.

Neil Hind, chair of the Pinewoods Conservation Group charity, said the “world has changed” since the covid pandemic, which “has shown the importance of our green spaces”.

He added:

“Why would you approve it? Does the name of Harrogate want to be associated with single-use plastic? As a district, we can offer so much more, especially around our amazing green spaces.

“The reasons to approve to not stack up. Eyes from all over the world are on Harrogate, this is time to put Harrogate on the map for the right reasons.”

Stuart Natkus from planning agent Barton Willmore spoke on behalf of Harrogate Spring Water.

‘Not plastic vs trees’

He described the application as a “one-off opportunity” to expand the business, adding it did not intend expand further into the Pinewoods after this.

He said the argument is “not as simple as plastic vs trees” as the company was exploring alternative materials for bottles, such as cans and cardboard, which the extension would help facilitate.

He said:

“Harrogate Spring Water is fully committed to the community. Their brand is what sells, as part of that they have a huge responsibility.”

Conservative Cllr Jim Clark for Harrogate Harlow questioned claims by Harrogate Spring Water that they have been “good neighbours” to people living close to the bottling plant. Instead he described them as “neighbours from hell”.

Read more:

• How Harrogate Borough Council benefits from Harrogate Spring Water plant

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

In response, Rob Pickering, marketing manager at Harrogate Spring Water, said the company “have always had an approach to the community and environment that we consider hugely important to us”.

‘Not on my watch’

Nigel Simms was the only councillor who spoke in favour of the plans. He called the concerns around plastic waste and the environment “hang-ups” and urged councillors to back the plans.

He said:

“I can’t see that all the arguments for biodiversity and plastic have anything to do with this council and whether they give them planning permission.”

Liberal Democrat Cllr Pat Marsh, who sat on the planning committee when the bottling plant was first proposed in the year 2000, cited national planning policy around protecting the natural environment and the council’s Local Plan as reasons for refusal.

She said:

“Harrogate Borough Council is saying profit and plastic before impact on the environment. Not on my watch. We have good grounds for refusal and I hope members will refuse this.”

Harrogate Spring Water has said it will “consider our options” following today’s refusal of plans to expand its bottling plant into Rotary Wood in the Pinewoods.

Eight councillors on Harrogate Borough Council’s 12-person planning committee voted to refuse the controversial plans this afternoon, with four abstaining.

The company could choose to appeal the decision, submit another application or stick with the original outline planning permission obtained in 2016.

Rob Pickering, a senior spokesperson for Harrogate Spring Water, said:

“We’re disappointed by the committee’s decision to reject the revision of our planning application.

“We have been able to clearly demonstrate the economic and environmental benefits, as well as outline our commitment to leaving a positive environmental impact. At this stage, we will need to consider our options and decide on our next steps.

“However, irrespective of this decision, we would like to reassure our local community that we are committed to keeping them informed and involved with any environmental measures and landscaping developments at the Harrogate Spring Water site in the future.”

Neil Hind, chair of Pinewoods Conservation Group who spoke at the meeting, called on Harrogate Borough Council to commit to protecting Rotary Wood from future planning applications.

He said:

“We thank the planning committee for their considered debate and we are very pleased with their outcome to reject this application.

“We also thank all those groups, supporters and residents who have supported our campaign that has been much appreciated.

“We will now be asking Harrogate Council at their meeting on February 10 to confirm, following the massive public backlash to these proposals, that they have no plans to sell or lease any part of Rotary Wood, now or in the future.”

Read more:

• How Harrogate Borough Council benefits from Harrogate Spring Water plant

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

A spokesperson for the Harrogate & District Green Party, welcomed the decision:

“We are of course really pleased that the decision to enlarge the original factory extension has been rejected.  Well done to everyone for their hard work raising awareness of this local issue.  

“We are also grateful for members of the planning committee in representing the people and the environment, not least Cllr Jim Clark’s remark that ‘this is where the battle for the planet is going to be fought’ and making Harrogate a world leader – not of shipping pollution around the world but of environmentally friendly solutions.”

The Rotary Club of Harrogate said it was “heartened” by the decision.

President Alistair Ratcliffe said:

“We are heartened that Harrogate Borough Council has taken the decision to reject this application and that any further planned destruction of the Rotary Wood will be avoided.

“We will, with others, commit ourselves to ensuring that the loss of biodiversity, carbon capture and the loss of community value as an amenity are fully compensated.”

Harrogate Borough Council is voting this afternoon on controversial plans by Harrogate Spring Water to expand its bottling plant in the Pinewoods.

The 12-person planning committee is meeting virtually from 2pm to debate the proposals, which could see trees felled. A report to councillors recommends deferring and approving the application.

The issue has received 372 objections and 29 in support. Countryfile presenter Julia Bradbury has been vociferous in her opposition.

The Stray Ferret will be posting live updates from the meeting so keep refreshing this page.

3.49pm – Councillors vote to refuse Harrogate Spring Water’s bottling plant extension

Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee votes to refuse Harrogate Spring Water’s proposal to extend its bottling plant further in the Pinewoods.

3.26pm – Application is “on the front line to save the planet”

Cllr Jim Clark says the planning application is on “the front line” to save the planet.

He said:

“This is a dreadful proposal.

“This is the front line in the fight to save the planet. I know it may not seem like it from where we sit in our studies.”

3.20pm – Plan is contrary to policy to “enhance the natural environment”

Cllr Pat Marsh says the application is contrary to planning policy to “enhance the natural environment”.

Councillors will shortly vote on the officer’s recommendation.

3pm – “We do everything we can to be part of the community,” says Harrogate Spring Water

Cllr Jim Clark, committee member, asks the company if it will commit to “being a good neighbour” after concerns from residents.

Robert Pickering, of Harrogate Spring Water, says “we do everything we can to be part of the community”.

2.45pm – Harrogate Spring Water agent says “it’s not as simple as plastics versus trees”

Stuart Natkus, agent for Harrogate Spring Water, tells the committee that councillors need to remember that the application already has planning permission.

He adds that the application is “not as simple as plastics versus trees” and says the company has done “way more” ecology than any other application he has worked on.

2.36pm – Pandemic shows importance of green spaces, says Pinewoods Conservation Group chair

Neil Hind, chair of the Pinewoods Conservation Group, tells the committee that the reasons to approve the bottling plant extension “just don’t stack up”.

He adds that the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdowns have shown the need for open spaces.

Mr Hind said:

“The pandemic has shown the importance of our green spaces. There are many reasons why this should be rejected.

“The reasons given to approve this just don’t stack up.”

2.31pm – Ward member speaks against the proposal

Cllr Sam Gibbs, ward member, says residents in his area would be affected by the application.

He says:

“I struggle to see how approval of this proposal can in any way be in the best interests of the people we represent.”

Cllr Gibbs adds that he told residents he would do “everything he could” to protect the greenspace that the land represents.

2.22pm – Councillors begin to discuss bottling plant extension

Mark Williams, case officer for the application, explains the application to committee members.

He says outline permission has already been granted. Councillors are told the application is to vary a condition for the further extension. A final application for reserved matters would have to come back to the committee.

2.05pm – Council benefit from land “not a declarable interest”

The council’s legal officer explains that the fact that the council benefits from the land the plant is on is not a declarable interest for councillors.

Peter Atkinson, legal officer at the meeting, said it was not a declarable interest “as far as members are concerned”.

2pm – Meeting starts

Cllr John Mann, chair of the planning committee, opens the meeting which is being streamed live onto YouTube.

1.50pm – Planning committee prepares to hear Pinewoods plan

Councillors on Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee are preparing to make a decision on the controversial plans to expand a bottling plant in the Pinewoods.

The Stray Ferret has published a series of reports this past week on the issue, including an intervention by TV presenter Julia Bradbury and how the borough council benefits from the plant.

Meanwhile, Harrogate Spring Water has said it welcomes the planning officers recommendations to approve the plan today.

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.