Local MP launches petition for Harrogate Spring Water Levy to be spent locally

Tom Gordon has stepped up his campaign to ensure that profits from the use of the ‘Harrogate’ name by Harrogate Spring Water are returned to the town by launching a petition. Tom is calling on local residents to back the campaign and help Harrogate get the money it deserves. 

For years, Harrogate Spring Water has paid a levy amounting to 0.5% of its net sales for the use of the town’s name – a contribution which historically went to Harrogate Borough Council. But now, following a local government reorganisation and the abolition of Harrogate Borough Council, this revenue now goes to North Yorkshire Council, which covers a vast area from Scarborough to Selby. As a result, funds intended to support Harrogate risk being spent miles away, with no direct benefit to the town. 

The last payment Harrogate Spring Water made to North Yorkshire Council was £176,806 – nearly half of the future Harrogate Town Council’s budget. If this levy was redirected to the Town Council, it would represent a 48.84% increase in their budget. This significant boost could make a real difference, allowing the council to do more to improve the town. 

Tom has already spoken publicly about this issue, urging North Yorkshire Council to transfer the funds to the future Harrogate Town Council. He also wrote a letter to Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire Council, making the same request. Now ramping up his campaign, Tom has launched a petition calling for the Harrogate Spring Water levy to be spent locally. Since speaking on this issue, Tom has received significant support from locals and is encouraging them to back the campaign by signing the petition. 

Commenting, Tom said: 

"I am continuing my call for the revenue generated from the use of the ‘Harrogate’ name by Harrogate Spring Water to go to the future Harrogate Town Council, not to North Yorkshire Council, where it currently goes. 

"Since speaking out on this issue, I have been overwhelmed by the support from local residents who want to see the funds from the Harrogate Spring Water levy spent right here in our town. This petition is a chance for us all to come together and make sure our town gets what it deserves. 

“The people of Harrogate deserve the see the value of their town’s name reinvested in their own community – not swallowed up by bureaucracy of a much larger council.” 

ENDS 

The petition can be found here