Letter: Vandalism of the highest order

Some of my neighbours and I recently received a flier from Couns Gibb and Clark asking if we supported the proposed extension to the bottling plant on Harlow Moor Road, and for our comments.

Although I think this is a little late in the day, I have responded as below.

Whilst I have always supported the Harrogate Water brand and accepted the necessity for the bottling plant to be close to the water source, I am extremely angry that all the conditions attached to the original application and put in place to protect the well-being of local residents have been disdainfully torn up and thrown away by the council, leaving those of us who chose to live on a quiet side of town enduring heavy lorries thundering along all through the night and at weekends.

This can only increase should the proposal go ahead.

I also believe it outrageous to even consider destroying woodland planted as a memorial by local people, including children and which was meant as an amenity in perpetuity. Most people would give their all for a place of such calm beauty, interest, education and, during recent months, comfort and solace.

That this should be destroyed to facilitate a process that includes generating plastic is vandalism of the highest order; and to do so at a time when climate change and plastic waste is supposed to be at the top of the world’s agenda, incomprehensible.

The impact on and damage to the flora and fauna will not be repaired by alternative planting elsewhere, which is merely a sop to gain approval. It will have a lasting effect on the area, wildlife and environment and be to the eternal shame of the council.