Secretary of State refuses to intervene in decision over future of Rotary Wood in Harrogate

It had looked as if the thorny question of the premium bottled water brand's long-fought proposals to expand the capacity at its plant on Harlow Hill would be taken out of local councillors' hands after Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Tom Gordon approached Steve Reed, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities, and Local Government.

But, although the Government accepted the MP’s request, it says it will not intervene in Harrogate Spring Water’s planning application which would involve the loss of 500 trees at neighbouring Rotary Wood.

The parliamentary under-secretary Baroness Taylor of Stevenage wrote: "I am sorry that this is not the outcome that you or your constituents may have hoped for, and I realise the decision will come as a disappointment."

Mr Gordon, who opposes the expansion plans like many local politicians and community groups, said he was disappointed but would not back down in the battle with Danone UK & Ireland, parent company of Harrogate Spring Water.

“It’s disappointing that the Secretary of State has decided not to call in Danone’s planning application,” he said.

“This is a David and Goliath battle, one of a large foreign multinational corporation versus local residents who will have to deal with the impact of our natural resources being exploited for private profit.

“We have fantastic local residents, councillors, and organisations like the Pinewoods Conservation group and a proper grassroots community led campaign.

"I will continue to work with them going forward as the application progresses.”

The owners of Harrogate Spring Water issued a statement after the Secretary of State’s decision to return Harrogate Spring Water’s reserved matters application to North Yorkshire Council.

A spokesperson for Danone North Europe said: “We welcome the Secretary of State’s decision that the proposed Harrogate Spring Water bottling facility expansion does not need to be considered by the government and the decision remains with the North Yorkshire Council.

"We have worked constructively with council officers and engaged with the local community to ensure our plans align with planning policy and reflect the commitments we have made.

"We look forward to a timely decision on the application.”

If agreed, the water company says the expansion project would create more than 50 jobs and boost the local economy by £2.3 million annually.

The plans include a two-acre, publicly-accessible woodland extension and a commitment to plant 3,000 trees to replace those impacted by the development.

As well as Tom Gordon MP and local groups including Save Rotary Wood Again, Pinewoods Conservation Group, The Green Party and local residents, the bottled water firm has also attracted opposition at a national level.

Famously, TV presenter Julia Bradbury came out in public against the proposals while Dame Judi Dench described them as “environmental vandalism”.

North Yorkshire Council's Harrogate and Knaresborough area planning committee deferred a decision on the expansion in October last year which saw councillors call for more environmental checks and members of campaign group Save Rotary Wood Again mounting a “tree-themed” protest in advance.

The decision will now return to North Yorkshire Council and to local county councillors on the Harrogate and Knaresborough Area Committee.