Pinewoods Conservation Group's latest views on Rotary Woods dispute in Harrogate

Pinewoods Conservation Group has issued an update on the latest developments in the long-running dispute over Harrogate Spring Water's expansion plans at Rotary Wood.
Neil Hind of Pinewoods Conservation Group.Neil Hind of Pinewoods Conservation Group.
Neil Hind of Pinewoods Conservation Group.

The update by PInewoods Conservation Group comes after the impact on Harrogate Borough Council's normal planning schedule during the coronavirus lockdown.

The update by PInewoods Conservation Group reads

On April 29 an application was submitted to further extend the planning window on outline reserved matters from May 10 to September 10. (19/05245/DVCMAJ).

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This received what could have been the swiftest approval ever by the Harrogate Council planning team with a report being published the following week on May 6 and approval granted May 7.

On May 7 the reserved matters application was submitted anyway despite the extension being requested as above. (20/01539/REMMAJ) This includes detailed planning and landscaping information.

Their consultants wrote this week saying: “Unfortunately we have been unable to hold the necessary meetings and workshops as anticipated due to the lockdown and as the date for the submission of the reserved matters approached, an application for the reserved matters needed to be made.”

In meetings earlier in the year it was confirmed by both HSWL and their consultants that all relevant groups would be kept informed of progress and that consultation would be undertaken. It is disappointing that the current COVID-19 lockdown has been used as an excuse as consultation could have easily been done via email or other virtual methods.

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Again, groups have been ignored and their views not considered in the next stage of this application despite earlier assurances given.

The update continues

Harrogate Council have confirmed that, although planning meetings are likely to restart on June 2, “there is understandable reluctance to take controversial items like this to such ‘remote’ meetings.”

As such there are no dates for any of these items to be considered but it has been confirmed these will only be via the full planning committee.

In summing the situation up, the update said: "We were surprised and disappointed that Harrogate Spring Water has pushed ahead with development plans without undertaking the consultation it promised with ourselves and Harrogate Rotary Club."

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