Environmental campaigner Sarah Gibbs has revived her campaign to oppose the expansion of Harrogate Spring Water‘s bottling factory.
Ms Gibbs played a major role in the previous campaign against the company’s plans to fell trees in the Pinewoods to expand its site.
She stood outside Harrogate Borough Council during winter in a tree costume, urging the local authority to reject the scheme. The council, which received more than 400 objections, rejected the plans in January last year.
Now that the company has announced new plans, albeit on a smaller scale, Ms Gibbs has started campaigning again.
Last weekend she put up banners in the town centre and Valley Gardens for people to see during the jubilee celebrations. She is also considering protesting outside the council offices again.
She told the Stray Ferret she was “trying to do something rather than nothing” because she felt so passionately about the issue.
“I am trying to raise awareness because not everybody will be aware that this is on the agenda again.
“I would like to see our council take the climate emergency seriously.”
Pinewoods Conservation Group has said it is “encouraged” by Harrogate Spring Water’s decision to consult with people about its plans and and its commitment to “work with us and other key stakeholders to achieve a net biodiversity gain”.
But Ms Gibbs, a forest school teacher, said “there can be no mitigation against the loss of trees”.
She said she often received abuse from people and was called a hypocrite, a claim she denied, but even so said “I’d rather be a hypocrite than do nothing”.
Read more:
- Pinewoods tree protester vows to lobby council offices every week
- Harrogate Spring Water to submit new plans to expand bottling plant soon
Harrogate Spring Water said last month it planned to revert to its original 2017 plan to expand its bottling plant.
The move, which would result in the loss of two acres of woodland, would create 30 jobs. A planning application is expected in autumn after a period of public consultation.
Harrogate Spring Water’s offices on Harlow Moor Road.
Richard Hall, managing director at Harrogate Spring Water, said:
“The town of Harrogate and the local community are at the heart of our business. So it is important for us to ensure that, as we look to grow, create further job opportunities and continue to support the local and regional economy, we also listen to them.
“That’s why we are now encouraging people to engage with us on this process, to give us the benefit of their views and to help shape the future of the company.
“We have a shared interest in driving prosperity for the town and creating a sustainable future for a key business that takes the Harrogate name around the UK and the world, and we hope that this process will allow us to come to a resolution which addresses people’s concerns and the town’s aspirations.”
Harrogate Spring Water to submit new plans to expand bottling plant soon
Harrogate Spring Water is to revert back to its original 2017 plan to expand its bottling plant — and will submit a new application soon that proposes how felled trees at Rotary Wood will be compensated for.
The company won outline planning permission to expand its premises on Harlow Moor Road by 5,500 sqm five years ago. It means the principle of development has been established but the finer details have not been agreed.
The approved 2017 plans involve the felling of some trees at Rotary Wood, a woodland behind its current site that was planted by The Rotary Club of Harrogate and local schoolchildren in the 2000s.
In January 2021 a high-profile reserved matters application that was 40% larger and looked to chop down more trees than had been agreed was turned down by Harrogate Borough Council‘s planning committee.
The application provoked a public backlash and generated a debate about how a large, successful businesses should operate in the era of climate change.
Compensation
To compensate for the loss of trees, the company offered to plant new ones, create scrubland and build a pond on private land behind RHS Harlow Carr.
But this was an offer that dismayed some councillors on the planning committee and local groups including Pinewoods Conservation Group.
Piers Forster, a professor of climate physics at the University of Leeds who lives in Harrogate published a co-authored report that said about five times more new woodland was needed to properly compensate for the loss of trees.
Read more:
- Harrogate Spring Water: New details about how council makes money from bottled water plant
- Harrogate council open to selling Rotary Wood to Harrogate Spring Water
Next steps
The company said in July 2021 that it was working on a brand new application and the old plan would be disregarded.
However, the company has now decided to go back to its original plan rather than going through the torturous process of starting from scratch.
But, as in 2021, it still will need councillors on the planning committee to approve a reserved matters application that deals with its appearance and crucially, how the destroyed trees at Rotary Wood will be compensated for.
The company is yet to publish exact details on how it will do this.
Consultation events
Harrogate Spring Water said in a statement that it is looking to achieve “net biodiversity gain” for the site, carry out a compensatory tree planting scheme and it will make the remaining part of Rotary Wood more accessible to the public.
A series of public consultation events will take place in June where people will get to have their say and shape the proposals.
The company said the plans would create 30 new jobs.
Richard Hall, managing director at Harrogate Spring Water, said:
“The town of Harrogate and the local community are at the heart of our business. So it is important for us to ensure that, as we look to grow, create further job opportunities and continue to support the local and regional economy, we also listen to them.
“That’s why we are now encouraging people to engage with us on this process, to give us the benefit of their views and to help shape the future of the company.
“We have a shared interest in driving prosperity for the town and creating a sustainable future for a key business that takes the Harrogate name around the UK and the world, and we hope that this process will allow us to come to a resolution which addresses people’s concerns and the town’s aspirations.”
A spokesperson for the Pinewoods Conversation Group said:
Ripon supermarket submits plans for car valeting pod“Whilst we are pleased that the plans for the larger site have now been dropped we are disappointed that the company still plan to progress with the original development first proposed 5 years ago. Since then, the public’s concerns around single use plastics and views on supporting the environment have strengthened substantially. This original development still has a large footprint of almost 2 acres that will see the removal of many trees and the loss of public accessible green space.
“However, we are encouraged by this new consultation and a commitment to work with us and other key stakeholders to achieve a net biodiversity gain for the site and to create more shared areas. Any replacement for land lost is a must for the local community. We would encourage all those with an interest to attend the planned events and make their views known.”
Morrisons supermarket in Ripon could be getting a car valeting pod.
The supermarket hopes to offer a ‘wash whilst you shop’ service in the store’s car park.
Morrisons would remove 10 car parking spaces to create the pod, which could be a prefabricated single-storey structure.
Services offered would range from a basic wash to upholstery and seat cleaning.
Plans have been submitted to Harrogate Borough Council this week and will be decided at a later date.
Documents submitted on behalf of the supermarket said:
“Wm Morrison Supermarkets Ltd would also add that car park valet offer a service which is highly valued by Morrisons customers and firmly aligns with their plan to bring more and more popular and useful services to the communities that they serve.”
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Photographer on why Swinsty Reservoir saved his life after addiction
Dave Lobley says his love of photographing the sunrise at Swinsty Reservoir saved his life as he recovered from alcohol addiction.
The serene reservoir in the Washburn Valley has been a favourite sanctuary of Harrogate district residents for decades.
Mr Lobley, who was born and bred in Harrogate, quit drinking seven years ago after he ended up in hospital.
He said:
“It was a near-death job.
“But I came out of hospital and had a fresh chance at life.”
One of Mr Lobley’s friends bought him an old Canon camera and it ignited a new passion.
He used to work nights in Blackpool and would walk around Swinsty early in the morning when he finished his shifts.
His spectacular landscape shots of the reservoir have found an appreciative audience on the You Know You’re a Harrogotanian Facebook group, where he regularly shares them.
Swinsty Reservoir. Credit – Dave Lobley
He jokes that photography has become “my new addiction”.
“It saved my life. I was on the road to destruction.”
Mr Lobley said the popular reservoir has become a second home to him and his trusted companion, Lilian, an 11-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
He said photography helps him to express his view of the world and to stay alcohol-free.
Read more:
- Swinsty Reservoir walking route reopens today
- New bee-friendly habitats for Fewston, Swinsty and Thruscross reservoirs
Mr Lobley described what he thinks makes Swinsty such a special place.
“For me, the sunrise is amazing. It’s about the trees and the colours.
“With it being so close to Harrogate, it doesn’t cost anything to go there. Disabled access is very good and it’s great to see people there enjoying themselves. It’s a place to clear your mind.”
As well as photographing Swinsty and the nearby Fewston Reservoir, he enjoys taking his camera on walks around the Lake District, Wales and the Yorkshire Dales.
Swinsty Reservoir. Credit – Dave Lobley
In May, he will travel to Scottish Highlands with his partner to walk 96 miles in six days.
He wants to show other people that might be struggling with addiction that another life is possible.
“It’s a bit of closure from not drinking. I’ve come this far so I want to raise awareness if you’re struggling with addiction. There is another way, focus on photography or anything, you can beat it, rather than it beating you.”
Mr Lobley said Swinsty’s pull will always keep him coming back for more.
“When the sun’s comin up at Swinsty and you can feel the warmth, that’s the biggest high you can ask for.
“There’s nothing better.”
You can follow him on Instagram here.
Swinsty Reservoir. Credit – Dave Lobley
Villagers in Bishop Monkton say climate change has led to increased flooding in their village over the past decade — and two housing developments, with a total of 125 new homes, will exacerbate the problem.
Bishop Monkton Action Group was formed two years ago to raise awareness in the village about a 98-home development on Moor Road by Alfa Homes and 25-homes by Kebbell Developments on Knaresborough Road.
The group’s members are residents Kenneth Barker, Jonathan Beer, Harvey Bigg, Martin Minett, Raj Selvarajan and Bob Upton.
Both sites in the village, which is five miles south of Ripon, were allocated for development in Harrogate Borough Council’s Local Plan, which means they are likely to be approved in some form.
But the action group is holding out hope that they will be dismissed outright because surface water at the two sites will run off into Bishop Monkton Beck, a small river that runs through the village.
Major implications
The group says freak flood events are becoming more common in the village.
One resident submitted an objection to both developments that said from 2011 to 2020 the village faced nine days of floods, which was the same as the previous 50 years combined.
A spokesperson for the action group said
“The wider cumulative impacts of these developments will have major implications to the village in our view.”
The Alfa Homes proposal
Read more:
Flood risk assessment
A flood risk assessment submitted on behalf of Alfa Homes says surface water from the development will be discharged into Bishop Monkton Beck, which the Environment Agency classes as a river.
The developer said it has factored in a 30% increase in rainfall due to climate change but the risk of flooding would remain low.
A flood assessment submitted on behalf of the smaller Kebbel Developments scheme said surface water run-off into the river “will not increase flood risk elsewhere.”
That scheme will store water in a tank before it is discharged into the river.
However, members of the action group fear the two schemes, as well as a plan to increase the number of caravans on a local holiday site, could make flood events like those seen in 2015 and 2020 worse.
The two applications have almost 300 objections between them, with many people citing fears about flooding in the village.
North Yorkshire County Council, which is the flood authority, said HBC should refuse the application on flood grounds. It said:
“[The development] will ultimately increase the risk of flooding and exacerbate an already flood prone area; potentially further jeopardising people, property and critical infrastructure.”
Mike Mulligan, director at Kebbell Developments, sent the following response:
“The site is allocated for residential development in the adopted Harrogate Local Plan and therefore the principle of development has already been established. The comments and concerns of local residents on surface water flooding are noted and our engineers are liaising with the relevant bodies on the detailed design of the on-site attenuation and drainage scheme.
“We can confirm that the surface water drainage scheme for the development will meet all the necessary requirements. The key principle of the scheme is to ensure that the surface water is attenuated on the site in a large storage tank before being slowly discharged into the Beck at an agreed discharge rate.”
Afla Homes did not send a response at the time of publication
Residents on Harrogate’s Duchy Road lose water after pipe burstsPeople living on Harrogate’s Duchy Road were without water today after a pipe burst.
Yorkshire Water was carrying out planned work to repair a section of pipe.
But a Yorkshire Water spokeswoman explained things didn’t go entirely to plan. She said:
“During that repair, an unexpected burst happened nearby. This was then repaired live by the guys on site already there.
“It’s unclear how many houses were affected but I can tell you we had five calls from customers.
“This issue should now be resolved, customers may experience low pressure as their water comes back on.”
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- Harrogate district MP Nigel Adams to step down at next election
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#HG1 Apologies if you have no water due to work on #DuchyRoad. We will get supplies back on ASAP and will tweet when resolved. pic.twitter.com/WD9otVNaPE
— Yorkshire Water Help (@YWHelp) April 10, 2022
Swinsty Reservoir walking route reopens today
The circular walking route around Swinsty Reservoir has reopened today, three months ahead of schedule.
Yorkshire Water closed the circular route around the reservoir In November 2020 to allow it to undertake £6 million safety works that were due to be completed in the summer.
The company introduced a temporary footpath, which drew some complaints for being too muddy.
https://twitter.com/YorkshireWater/status/1512387717430136845
The reservoir in the Washburn Valley is a popular location for families and dog walkers in the Harrogate district.
Alastair Harvey, lead recreation advisor at Yorkshire Water, said:
“Swinsty is one of our most popular reservoir sites, so it’s fantastic to have the full circular route open once again. We’re grateful for the patience of our visitors and local residents whilst the work took place.”
Read more:
Harrogate Hydro to close on Friday for £11m refurbishment
The Hydro swimming pool in Harrogate will close for nine months on Friday ahead of a £11.8m refurbishment.
The facility will get a two-storey extension as well as a new entrance, cafe and reception area.
There will also be new diving board equipment, a new fitness suite and the changing areas will be upgraded.
A computer generated image of how the Hydro will look.
The existing gas boilers will be replaced with air source heat pumps and 250 solar panels, as well as new metering and energy monitoring and control systems.
The pool is run by Brimhams Active on behalf of Harrogate Borough Council.
It means until January, the nearest available council-run pools will be in Starbeck, Knaresborough, Patelely Bridge and Ripon. Opening times are available on the Brimhams Active website.
Read more:
- Harrogate Hydro renovations a long-term gain, says diving club
- Hot Seat: Leading the Harrogate district’s leisure revolution
The project will be carried out in phases, with the refurbished pool hall and changing rooms re-opening in January 2023 and the ‘dry side’ activity space by April 2023.
How the new Knaresborough Pool will look.
Work to build the new Knaresborough Pool will start on April 26. The current facility will remain open.
Wallace Sampson, Harrogate Borough Council’s chief executive, said:
Harrogate council open to selling Rotary Wood to Harrogate Spring Water“This investment at both the Hydro in Harrogate and a new facility in Knaresborough follows our investment at the Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre in Ripon and shows our commitment to providing first-class leisure facilities for Harrogate district residents.”
Harrogate Borough Council has said it would consider selling Rotary Wood to Harrogate Spring Water, as the company looks to expand its bottling plant on Harlow Moor Road.
The move was revealed in an email sent by Trevor Watson, the council’s director of economy and culture, to HSW in October 2021. It was obtained via a freedom of information request.
HSW leases the land where it is based, on Harlow Moor Road, from the council. The company pays the council ground rent of £13,000 a year plus turnover rent revenue, but this figure has never been publicly revealed.
The council is also the planning authority and in January last year councillors rejected a bid by HSW to expand its bottling plant into Rotary Wood.
The woodland was planted by the Rotary Club of Harrogate and local schoolchildren and is part of the council-owned Pinewoods.
In July 2021, Harrogate Spring Water said it would table new proposals to expand the bottling plant ‘within weeks’ but eight months on it has yet to do so.
Asset of Community Value
Pinewoods Conservation Group successfully registered the Pinewoods as an Asset of Community Value in 2015.
This means if the council decided to sell any of it, it must pause any sale for six months whilst it gives local community groups the chance to make an offer to buy it.
The email from the HSW employee, whose name is redacted, to Mr Watson reveals that representatives from HSW had a ‘helpful’ meeting with Conservative council leader Richard Cooper and deputy leader Graham Swift in September 2021. The ACV status of the woodland was discussed.
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In the email to Mr Watson, the HSW employee asked about the process for “releasing the land of this status”.
The email says as HSW decided to ‘do right by the town’ by not appealing last January’s refusal to grant planning permission, it asks the council to ‘lend your assistance’ around the ACV status of the wood, which it would like removed to speed up its planning application. It adds:
“A key element of the new application would be to try to expediate the process of releasing this land of its status, in order to avoid an unnecessarily protracted period of consultation and media scrutiny. I firmly believe this would be in the best interest of both parties.”
Open to offers
Mr Watson’s reply said that any sale of land with ACV status must follow due process but the authority would be open to offers.
Mr Watson added:
“The timing of all this therefore largely rests with HSW, in terms of how soon you wish to commence negotiations for the land and ultimately whether an in-principle agreement can be reached on potential disposal terms.”
He said informal discussions between the council and the business about buying the land took place “a number of years ago” but terms could not be reached.
Harrogate Spring Water’s head office on Harlow Moor Road in Harrogate.
Mr Watson said if a bid came in from HSW for the land, it would be subject to the usual six-month consultation period.
“We would therefore see the ball being in the HSW court in terms of formally approaching the council with a new, meaningful proposal for our consideration.
“If and when disposal terms are agreed in principle, the ACV process would then be formally triggered and we would carefully follow all the legal processes required, including public consultation as appropriate.”
Planning process ‘needs to be followed’
A Harrogate Spring Water spokesperson said:
“Harrogate Spring Water is evaluating its plans for the site and will communicate any update as and when that occurs. We are committed to working with the public and we will continue to keep people engaged and informed as part of the process”.
A Harrogate Borough Council spokeswoman said:
“This matter remains entirely in the hands of Harrogate Spring Water. We wrote to them back in Autumn 2021 setting out a factual response to questions that they asked us about our decision-making processes. We made very clear that there are distinct, statutory processes that we need to follow and that planning and land disposal processes are, quite rightly, dealt with as very separate matters. We have not had a response or any further discussions with the company on either the planning or land ownership situation”.
A spokesperson for Pinewoods Conservation Group said
Harrogate district volunteers wanted to fill sandbags for floods“With each year that passes the Rotary Wood area of The Pinewoods becomes a more mature woodland with increasing bird and plant life, improving the biodiversity of the area and improving air quality.
“We are aware that Cllr Swift has been vocal in his support of this planned development but would be very concerned if any promises had been made to expedite any part of this complicated process and avoid full transparency and consultation. We also note that Cllr Cooper has recently been attending planning committee meeting and would hope he would now excuse himself from any future planning committee that considered these planning matters.
“However, we are somewhat comforted by comments from council officers restating the legal and planning processes that needs to be followed with respect to disposal of public land, and land that is protected as an ‘asset of community value’.
“Our lawyers will continue to monitor progress with interest.”
A team of volunteers hopes to fill more than a thousand sandbags in Harrogate tomorrow.
Harrogate Borough Council keeps a stockpile of around 3,000 sandbags to support communities across the Harrogate district when they’re threatened with flooding.
The recent floods have depleted its stock so the council wants to prepare for future floods by filling up sandbags from 7am at its depot on Claro Road in Harrogate.
During floods in Pateley Bridge in February, some residents reported difficulties in getting hold of sandbags to help protect their properties.
Volunteers will come from Ready for Anything, which is a database of North Yorkshire County Council volunteers that are called upon in times of emergency.
If you are interested in coming along contact Harrogate Borough Council’s emergency planning officer Ash Demaline at ash.demaline@harrogate.gov.uk
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- Mother Shipton’s delays reopening due to flood damage
- Flooding reveals ‘major unresolved problem on West Park Stray’