Dame Judi Dench Urges Council to Reject Bottling Plant in Woodland
Dame Judi Dench has joined a high-profile campaign urging North Yorkshire Council to reject plans for expanding a water bottling plant in Harrogate, which would require clearing Rotary Wood. The woodland, planted by children twenty years ago, is described by Dench as a living community asset rather than an empty plot. Despite planning officers recommending approval, the council has received over 1,000 objections to the scheme proposed by Harrogate Spring Water (HSW), a subsidiary of Danone. HSW argues the expansion will create more than 50 jobs and includes commitments to plant nearly 3,000 trees elsewhere in the district. However, critics, including actress Dame Joanna Lumley and environmentalist Sir Jonathon Porritt, contend that destroying a thriving community woodland contradicts corporate forest policies and harms local biodiversity. A decisive planning meeting is scheduled to address the controversial proposal, highlighting the tension between industrial development and environmental conservation. The case has drawn significant public attention, emphasizing the value of urban green spaces and community-led nature projects.
Wire timeline
Dame Judi Dench Urges Council to Reject Bottling Plant in Woodland
Dame Judi Dench has joined a high-profile campaign urging North Yorkshire Council to reject plans for expanding a water bottling plant in Harrogate, which would require clearing Rotary Wood. The woodland, planted by children twenty years ago, is described by Dench as a living community asset rather than an empty plot. Despite planning officers recommending approval, the council has received over 1,000 objections to the scheme proposed by Harrogate Spring Water (HSW), a subsidiary of Danone. HSW argues the expansion will create more than 50 jobs and includes commitments to plant nearly 3,000 trees elsewhere in the district. However, critics, including actress Dame Joanna Lumley and environmentalist Sir Jonathon Porritt, contend that destroying a thriving community woodland contradicts corporate forest policies and harms local biodiversity. A decisive planning meeting is scheduled to address the controversial proposal, highlighting the tension between industrial development and environmental conservation. The case has drawn significant public attention, emphasizing the value of urban green spaces and community-led nature projects.
The Standard