Councillors in Harrogate have voted to go ahead with plans to bottle the town's spa water - despite massive local opposition.
The fate of the plant, which at full capacity would pump 20 million litres of water a year from an underground source near to Harlow Moor Road, now rests with the Environment Secretary John Prescott.
Some of the 1,000 objectors to the plan turned out in force to a meeting of Harrogate Borough Council last night, to claim that the plant would fill a special landscape area with trucks and other traffic. The council's decision - taken by 18 votes to 13 - goes against council policy, so Mr Prescott will have to be informed.
Opponents say they will carry on their campaign, saying they hope Mr Prescott will order a public inquiry. But he could simply tell the council to go ahead.
The ruling Liberal Democrat group hopes the plan will pave the way for reintroduction of spa treatments, as part of the planned £10 million revamp of the Royal Baths complex, the hub of Harrogate's Edwardian and Victorian fame as a watering place.
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