Local MP Tom Gordon has stepped up his campaign to ensure that profits from Harrogate Spring Water's use of the town's name are spent locally.
The MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough has launched a petition calling on local residents to back the campaign and help Harrogate "get the money it deserves."
Harrogate Spring Water pays 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.
However, 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.
Tom has spoken publicly about this issue and penned a letter to Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire Council, making the same request.
He 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."
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.
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