A new independent survey conducted through Suffrago, the local civic engagement and polling platform, has revealed overwhelming opposition to Harrogate Spring Water’s proposed factory 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.
You can take part and view the poll here https://suff.ag/QEQ1P4
Tom Gordon MP has now written to the company’s Managing Director, Richard Hall, calling for full transparency over how their survey was conducted.
Tom Gordon MP said:
There’s a huge gap between what Harrogate Spring Water’s survey claims and what local residents are actually saying.
The company says 71% support their expansion plans – but our independent, neutral survey shows more than 85% are opposed. That’s not a small difference. It’s a complete mismatch.
I’ve written to the Managing Director to demand full transparency: the wording of their questions, how the survey was conducted, and where respondents live. Until this information is shared, their figures cannot be trusted.
Local people deserve the truth – not spin.
Andrew Gray, founder of Suffrago, emphasised the importance of transparency and neutrality in local consultation:
These results reflect what we’re hearing on the ground – residents feel strongly about this proposal, and they want their voices to be accurately represented.
Public consultation only works if the data is gathered and shared openly. Surveys should capture community opinion, not shape it. This level of engagement in just 24 hours shows how much people care about the future of our town.
Tom Gordon added:
“This isn’t about being for or against a business – it’s about honesty, transparency, and respecting local voices. Harrogate Spring Water must now publish the full details of their survey so the public can judge its credibility for themselves.”
