Harrogate Green Party says local children's support plays key role in Rotary Wood campaign

Harrogate Spring Water expansion plans rejected as woodland campaigners celebrate victory

After welcoming councillors' decision at Harrogate Borough Council's planning committee earlier in this week to reject revised expansion plans by Harrogate Spring Water, Harrogate and District Green Party said it wanted to thank the community and the children who got involved with its Message in a Bottle campaign.

The Greens says the Message in a Bottle campaign was an integral part of its push to encourage everyone in the community to have their say, from the youngest to the oldest.

Highlighting issues in a way that helps people get involved, it also showed how communities can make a difference and hold elected officials to account.

Hannah Corlett, press officer of Harrogate and District Green Party said: “We couldn’t have achieved this decision without the messages in a bottle from the children of Harrogate, and the support of the local community and we want to thank them for their support.”

"One of the reasons why our message in a bottle campaign was so important was because Rotary Wood is a commemorative woodland planted by local groups and school children 15 years ago.

"We wanted children to share their messages about losing it, and what woodland means to them, to help the council understand the impact.

Local resident and Green Party campaigner Rebecca Maunder said: “What message does it send that we encourage school children to be involved with something like Rotary Wood, a community woodland for their future, for it to be ripped up 15 years later?

"We have to protect these valuable areas and we were overwhelmed with the community support.

"It just goes to show the positive impact and the strength a community can have for good.”

She added: “People are now acutely aware that our wildlife is declining and that our environment is increasingly polluted and they want to be part of the change.

"The small grassroots campaigns such as this add up to impact the large scale issues facing us all. “

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."

Group who planted Rotary Wood welcome defeat for Harrogate Spring Water's revised expansion plans

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