Local MP opposes plan for expansion of bottled water factory
The Liberal Democrat MP has been actively involved in the campaign
Harrogate and Knaresborough MP, Tom Gordon has opposed plans for a bottled water factory to be expanded into community woodland.
Members of North Yorkshire Council will debate Harrogate Spring Water’s application to increase the size of the plant on Harlow Moor Road, Harrogate later today.
Council planners are recommending the scheme is approved, despite anger that the expansion would mean the loss of around 500 trees in Rotary Wood, an area of community woodland planted around 20 years ago.
Gordon has been actively involved in the campaign, which has brought together community groups such as Save Rotary Wood Again and Pinewoods Conservation Group.
A new independent survey conducted through Suffrago, the local civic engagement and polling platform, has revealed overwhelming opposition the expansion.
Within just 24 hours, the neutral, community-led survey gathered over 500 responses from residents across Harrogate and Knaresborough - with more than 85% opposing the company’s expansion plans.
The findings stand in stark contrast to Harrogate Spring Water’s own June 2025 survey, which claimed that 71% of a sample of just 200 respondents supported the plans.
Tom Gordon MP has now written to the company’s Managing Director, Richard Hall, calling for full transparency over how their survey was conducted.
Speaking ahead of the meeting later today, the Liberal Democrat MP said: “I think this is a controversial expansion and the plans don't really do enough to address the issues and concerns that the local residents have had over the last few years. I think at a time where people are conscious about climate and waste, expanding a plastic bottled watering site is pushing it.”
Gordon is looking ahead to what the next steps will be following the meeting, “I've spoken with community groups, and they're sort of wondering what we do either way, following on from a decision.
“I'm sure this very much won't be the end of it rather the beginning. There have been all sorts of campaigns from a range of different groups, and it's been nice to see the community get behind a cause even if it's not one that we'd wish to fight.”
Last week, Harrogate Spring Water managing director told the Local Democracy Reporting Service, it will plant six times as many trees that it loses and create 50 new jobs.
The firm has also highlighted backing for the project from the York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce.