This week’s Q&A takes a look at how defensive plans are shaping up for next season as well as potential arrivals over the summer.

Manchester City have given themselves a chance of doing something very special. Their win over Chelsea on Sunday followed Arsenal’s shock home defeat at the hands of Bournemouth to spice up the title race and set up a titanic clash between the top two this Sunday.

Having already claimed the Carabao Cup and with Southampton standing in their way of a fourth straight FA Cup final, City are starting to dream of the Premier League again. With so much going on at the club, we’ll be hosting weekly Q&A sessions with our chief City writer Simon Bajkowski.

The day of the week it comes out on may change depending on what City’s schedule looks like, but essentially this is your chance to get an answer on anything you want – simply pop your question here at any time of the week and Simon will pick them all up and wrap everything up in one place.

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This week we are looking at some of the potential incomings this season and how the defence could shape up next season with another batch of young players pushing to be part of City’s plans. Elliot Anderson remains City’s top target for the summer window but there are set to be other moves in both directions.

I’m curious about the extent of our contact with Anderson, including whether an official bid has been made and what the expected transfer fee might be. There has been talk about viewing him as a number 8, so I’m wondering if he is considered purely as a replacement for Bernardo Silva, and if a midfielder like Kovacic were to leave, whether we would sign another midfielder. Lastly, I’d appreciate any updates on our progress in bringing in a new right-back. ddide

What’s the update on Elliot Anderson to City? MCFC1894

The update on Elliot Anderson is that there isn’t much to update on Elliot Anderson. My colleague Jeremy Cross, the chief sports writer for Reach’s national titles, reported last week that City believe they have won the race to sign him and that Anderson wants a move. It feels like the Morgan Gibbs-White deal last season that City lined up, where it isn’t to say that it will definitely happen but things are in place before the end of the season. Before then, though, City are trying to win two trophies, and Anderson is trying to keep Forest in the Premier League while also upsetting the odds and attempting to win the Europa League. It is a busy time for both that doesn’t need to be interrupted with anything transfer-related.

It is definitely a possibility that City sign two midfielders this summer and there are players that they like; Sandro Tonali is one name that has cropped up who could well be available given Newcastle’s position. But it depends on whether City feel like they need another player in that position and what kind of price point they are looking at. Nico Gonzalez will expect to take a heavy chunk of Bernardo Silva’s minutes, providing he stays, while Tijjani Reijnders and Phil Foden will also be looking for more.

Add in Rico Lewis if he stays and Nico O’Reilly who can move into midfield and there are lots of options for City. Signing one midfielder is a necessity that is basically set in stone for the window but any more remain up in the air.

How can we improve our defence? I feel like that has been our major concern all season. We’ve lost or tied games we should’ve won but the defence didn’t show up. Thank you, from Chicago! Andrew Gomez

Thanks for the question, Andrew. I must admit it’s not the question I expected after three clean sheets in a row against Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea, but equally all of those games contained top saves from either James Trafford or Gianluigi Donnarumma. City have been pretty fortunate to have not conceded any goals in the last three games and they will have to be switched on if they are to keep Arsenal out on Sunday.

Strangely, I’d say they’ve been okay from set-pieces but it has been more in open play that they have been caught out with O’Reilly or Nunes targeted. I’d say City’s fortunes now will be more about their attack though. They were sticky in March and Erling Haaland had been struggling but now they’ve shown they can dominate teams and score multiple goals when they are on top. If the attack is clicking, the defence should take care of itself.

What have you heard about Vitor Reis’s future at City? Will he be part of the club’s defensive lineup next season? Vladimir

With Guehi and Khusanov being incredible, Gvardiol back soon and Reis doing amazing, why would City not cash out on Dias this summer? Seb

Vitor Reis is a player who impressed enough for City to sign him in January 2025 and his reputation has gone up since then. He has looked really good in a Girona team that has got better and better this season, and he has eyes on returning to Manchester next term and being part of Guardiola’s plans. When you consider the players already there though, it isn’t a given. Which one of Gvardiol, Dias, Guehi and Khusanov would Reis be starting ahead of at the beginning of the next campaign?

It would be controversial if it were any of them, in which case Reis could decide to be part of the group anyway and force his way into Guardiola’s thinking, but equally, having played for a year in Spain’s top division, the best option may be to build his reputation that way. William Saliba joined Arsenal as an 18-year-old and spent the first three years of his deal on loan before coming in as a ready-made option at the Emirates, and at 20 Reis has time on his side.

City have plenty of other contenders to fill that fifth spot if it isn’t deemed right for Reis. Max Alleyne and Jahmai Simpson-Pusey have both been out on loan this season and would be a greener option for that place in the squad. City had five central defenders this term and still ended up needing to bring back Alleyne from his loan and then sign Marc Guehi in January to be able to survive the season, so quite why they’d want to sell one of their senior defenders and probable captains in Dias is beyond me.

I recently read reports mentioning that Leverkusen’s Ibrahim Maza is a transfer target for City. I’m curious to know if he is actually on our shortlist and whether there is a possibility of signing him this summer. Yjj

Hi, you read correctly! Although it may depend on what you view as a target. He is definitely a player that City have watched and like, but the list that that places him on is not short. City have obviously had plenty of success recruiting from the Bundesliga and Maza is an interesting prospect, it is just that City have other priorities for the window so will concentrate on that business and then see what they need and want. Hugo Viana has already shown that he is willing to strike if he feels an opportunity is there so Maza is one to keep an eye on, even if there are many more like him.

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When do you expect City to be going on tour and why no announcement yet? Hugo

Hi Simon, I was wondering if you have any insight into this summer’s pre-season tour plans. With many senior players likely to be unavailable due to the World Cup, is the club considering an overseas tour—perhaps to places like Korea or Japan—with a squad made up largely of younger players? Or is it more likely that you’ll opt for a smaller, warm-weather training camp in somewhere like the UAE instead? I’m sure overseas fans like myself are very curious about where the team will be heading for pre-season this summer. TJ Lee

Fans will soon find out about the tour, although it’s worth pointing out there is a lot of uncertainty owing to the war in Iran. A warm-weather training camp in the UAE does not sound as appealing as it did before all the bombs started flying around that area of the world. It is likely that nearly everyone in the City squad barring a handful (if that) of senior players will be at the World Cup but I am not expecting a watered-down tour even if City have to push the schedule a bit later and have more from the squad join up for later parts of it. The other big question for the tour is will Guardiola still be in charge to oversee it? You would expect an answer on that in the coming weeks as well.

Aldi made the donations over the Easter period as part of its wider food redistribution efforts across the UK, supporting families facing extra expenses during the school holidays.

Aldi has helped provide more than 1,600 meals to people in need across County Durham during Easter as part of its UK-wide food redistribution efforts. (Image: Daniel Graves Photography)

Luke Emery, national sustainability director at Aldi UK, said: “We know the school holidays can put real pressure on families who may already be struggling – especially when it comes to putting food on the table.

“By working with Neighbourly, we can ensure good food reaches families who need it, rather than going to waste.

“That’s food on people’s plates that might otherwise have been missed.”

The supermarket chain works in partnership with Neighbourly, a community engagement platform, to donate surplus fresh and chilled food to charities and community groups.

The scheme aims to ensure families can enjoy festive occasions, regardless of their financial situation.

Aldi’s nationwide food donation programme connects each of its UK stores with a local charity or community organisation to make use of surplus food throughout the year.

More than 710,000 meals were donated across the UK during the recent school holidays, with more than 14 organisations in County Durham alone benefiting from the scheme.

The donations contribute to Aldi’s ongoing partnership with Neighbourly, which has seen the delivery of the equivalent of more than 50 million meals since the collaboration began in 2019.

Steve Butterworth, CEO of Neighbourly, said: “Aldi’s commitment means local charities and community groups can rely on regular food donations to support people in their communities.

“For many of these organisations, that consistent support is vital – helping them provide food day in, day out.”

Beyond the Neighbourly partnership, Aldi works with other organisations to redistribute surplus goods.

This includes Company Shop Group, which distributes excess food and household products from Aldi’s Regional Distribution Centres to households across the UK.

The supermarket has also expanded its work with The Bread and Butter Thing, enabling suppliers across the UK to donate products that cannot be sold in stores—such as items with packaging damage or labelling errors—but are still perfectly good to eat.

He said: “And for those who are able to, picking up an extra item to donate in store can make a real difference to local communities.”

Residents in Toronto, Canada have been left shaken after a blast sent shockwaves through the city.

Video footage circulating online captures the scene following the incident, which appears to have occurred close to Downsview Airport, a decommissioned military airfield.

Posting another image online, one user wrote: “Barely caught this explosion in Toronto, made a whole Twitter account to ask what’s going on.”

A second commented: “Explosion aftermath in Toronto around downsview airport.”

An election gimmick calling for price controls is asking for trouble, says Record View.

Basket case plan doesn’t check out

High school pupils currently ­studying for their Nat 5 exam in economics could have warned John Swinney of the perils of the state dictating price controls. The First Minister is right to want to do more to ease the cost-of-living crisis which continues to hammer household budgets.

But state intervention on how much shops can charge for everyday items like bread or milk is asking for trouble. As a student of political history, the SNP leader should be aware of the mess Ted Heath’s Tory government found itself in during the early 70s when it introduced price controls across the UK in a desperate bid to reduce inflation.

The sums didn’t add up then and they don’t look any better in 2026. The independent Institute of Fiscal Studies yesterday warned that price controls could have the unintended consequence of creating shortages on supermarket shelves.

If prices for basic items such as bread are set above the market average, the policy is toothless. But if prices are set below, the sober-minded IFS warns this “radical and risky” position could cause havoc.

Given the polling lead commanded by the SNP with three weeks until the ­Holyrood election, it’s incredible that senior party figures agreed on such a bonkers policy. They might have no intention of seeing it through, and instead view it as a pleasing distraction from their ­decidedly patchy domestic record in office since 2007.

But it’s now caused many Scots to question whether the party can be trusted to run the economy.

READ MORE: John Swinney warned price cap plan for food will ‘line the pockets of lawyers’ instead of ordinary Scots

OPINION

Paul Hutcheon

No friend of ours

In his latest foray to Scotland, Nigel Farage has chosen to treat us to his views on independence. The Reform UK leader said IndyRef2 would be “quite reasonable” if the issue becomes “relevant” in future.

He said he remains opposed to ­independence but said he cannot predict how people will feel about the issue in 20 years’ time. The reality is Farage cares not a jot about Scotland and his views about independence are irrelevant.

He is no fan of the Scottish Parliament and would scrap the Barnett Formula, which provides Holyrood with a funding boost, in a heartbeat. Independence is a live issue north of the border but it is the people of Scotland whose views count.

Farage is nothing more than an occasional day tripper whose bar room outbursts should be ignored. He is a menace and voters across the UK should give him the cold shoulder.

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Outrage has been sparked by the trailer for a new film starring the late Val Kilmer in which his presence and performance is entirely AI-generated.

The star appears in upcoming movie As Deep As the Grave from writer-director Coerte Voorhees, alongside Harry Potter star Tom Felton, Abigail Lawrie, Abigail Breslin, Wes Studi and Killers of the Flower Moon’s Tatanka Means.

The film follows real-life archaeologist couple Ann (Lawrie) and Earl Morris (Felton) and their discovery of the unearthed Ancestral Puebloans remains in the 1920s.

Kilmer, who died in April 2025 aged 65 from pneunonia after a long battle with throat cancer, had been cast as Father Fintan, a Catholic priest and Native American spiritualist, before his death.

However, he was ultimately too ill to ever shoot any of his scenes and so Voorhees, with the support of Kilmer’s daughter Mercedes, opted to digitally create his performance in full for the film.

The Batman Forever actor is glimpsed throughout the atmospheric trailer, launched at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, as both a young, middle-aged and older version of his character, before his likeness declares at the end, as the camera hovers on his AI-generated face: ‘Don’t fear the dead, and don’t fear me.’

Twilight actor Jackson Rathbone was one of the most vocal critics of As Deep As the Grave’s choice, tagging US actors’ union Sag-Aftra and tweeting: ‘About that strike we had… You owe us an explanation. This is cool? Wtf.’

He then added of the ‘gross’ trailer, addressing Kilmer’s daughter directly: ‘Mercedes… I’m sorry for your loss, but this move begs the question… are you sorry for your loss? Or are you capitalising on your father’s death for your own financial gain? This is truly the MOST disgusting thing I’ve ever seen.’

‘Just because you can doesn’t mean you should,’ commented Michael Mrucz underneath the trailer, while another fan asked: ‘How can they label the movie as starring Val Kilmer when that is not actually Val Kilmer? Shouldn’t there be an asterisk or label like “AI Val Kilmer” to differentiate?’

‘Theatres shouldn’t screen this,’ insisted another commenter as others argued that it felt ‘immoral and obscene’, even if Kilmer and his family gave consent.

‘I mean, one has to wonder: did NOBODY involved think “hey, maybe we should draw the line when we reach NECROMANCY”?’ asked a horrified Redditor as other people agreed they’d refuse to watch a film with an AI actor.

‘I hope this fails so hard that other studios are scared to try it again. Biggest, most judgmental “YIKES”,’ added someone else.

Until now, Kilmer’s last role had been in 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick, where he made an emotional return to his iconic role as Iceman opposite original star Tom Cruise. For that film, AI was used to help recreate the actor’s old speaking voice.

‘When Val came onboard the project five years ago, he immediately identified with the historical southwestern spiritual character of Father Fintan, and understood the importance of elevating awareness of Ann Morris’ incredible story as the first female archaeologist in North America,’ filmmaker Voorhees said in a previous statement to Variety.

‘It was very unfortunate that his health at the time prevented him from playing this role which spoke to him spiritually and culturally.’

Kilmer’s daughter added: ‘He always looked at emerging technologies with optimism as a tool to expand the possibilities of storytelling. This spirit is something that we are all honoring within this specific film, of which he was an integral part.’

Producer John Vorhees repeated those reassurances to Entertainment Tonight at Wednesday’s CinemaCon presentation: ‘This is a character Val wanted to play, he was really clear about that before he passed and he spoke with his children about this, about continuing his legacy beyond his life.’

‘I think as long are families are okay, most people believe there shouldn’t be a problem,’ suggested Coerte Voorhees.

‘We really believe we need to prove the ethical, correct way to do this as an artistic endeavour,’ his producer brother John continued.

‘We currently have a free-for-all on the internet and all these places. With consent, compensation and collaboration – those are the three ‘C’s of what Sag-Aftra’s put forward -this is the way to do it and we believe we’re demonstrating that with our film.’

As Deep As the Grave is yet to confirm a release date.

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The rich list was published the TaxPayers Alliance, which has tracked how many local government employees across the country are paid more than £100,000 every year since 2007.

In Bolton’s case the campaign group found that chief executive Sue Johnson was the highest paid employee with a total pay of £232,698, including pension contributions, for 2024-25.

TaxPayers Alliance chief executive John O’Connell said: “Taxpayers are caught in a pincer movement with a record-breaking tax burden on one side and a bloated public sector feathering its nest on the other.

“Our latest Town Hall Rich List exposes a surging class of council bosses enjoying six-figure packages, even as they plead poverty, slash frontline services, and hike council tax bills far beyond inflation.

Bolton Town Hall (Image: Phil Taylor)

“Residents can see exactly how many local bureaucrats are receiving plush packages and judge for themselves whether they’re getting value for money.”

The TaxPayers Alliance describes itself as a grassroots campaign for lower taxes, government transparency and an end to wasteful government spending.

But the group has also faced criticism over its lack of transparency about funding and donors

The group’s campaigns manager Susie Squire left to become head of press for David Cameron in 2012 which founder, Matthew Elliot went on to found Conservative Friends of Russia in 2012.

The group’s findings also showed that six figure pay was awarded to director of corporate resources Lee Fallows with £164,710 including pension contributions.

Though Ms Johnson was the highest paid employee at Bolton Council, she did not feature amongst the top 20 highest paid local government employees in the country over that period.

Other high earners included director of place Jon Dyson with £158,189 including pension contributions.

Director of adults, communities and integration Rachel Tanner was paid £150, 689 including pension contributions.

But Bolton did not feature in the TaxPayers Alliance’s top 10 councils with the largest rise in employees receiving more than £100,000 from 2005-6 to 2024-25.

The borough also did not feature in the top ten of council for the highest number of employees paid more than £100,000 over 2024-25.

Sir Keir Starmer is under fire after it was revealed Lord Peter Mandelson was cleared to become US ambassador despite failing a security vetting process.

The Prime Minister has previously insisted that Lord Mandelson had lied about the extent of his links with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

But the Foreign Office had overruled Mandelson’s vetting because Sir Keir had already announced New Labour’s spin doctor as his man in Washington.

He is said to be ‘absolutely furious’ that the former Labour grandee was granted developed vetting against the advice of UK Security Vetting, the Government has said.

He then immediately instructed officials to establish the facts about why vetting was granted, and the Foreign Office has said it is ‘working urgently’ to comply with this request.

It comes after The Guardian reported that security officials initially denied the peer clearance, but it was after the Prime Minister had already named him as Britain’s top diplomat in the US, and the Foreign Office took the rare step of overruling the recommendation.

Sir Keir has previously said that vetting carried out independently by the security services ‘gave him clearance for the role’.

But the peer was not granted approval following the secretive process by the Cabinet Office’s UK Security Vetting (UKSV) last January, The Guardian reported.

A Government spokesperson said: ‘The decision to grant developed vetting to Peter Mandelson against the recommendation of UK Security Vetting was taken by officials in the FCDO.’

They added: ‘Once the Prime Minister was informed he immediately instructed officials to establish the facts about why the developed vetting was granted, in order to enact plans to update the House of Commons.’

The Foreign Office’s top civil servant, Sir Olly Robbins, has been asked to appear again before Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee next week to explain what happened.

Dame Emily Thornberry, senior Labour MP and the committee’s chairwoman, told Sky News: ‘Perhaps he can tell us… was it his own idea, or was he being leant on elsewhere?

‘Or was he, being a civil servant, was he getting direction from elsewhere, and if so, by whom?’

She also pointed to the careful language in a letter she received from Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper on the vetting process, which noted that: ‘The vetting process was undertaken by UK Security Vetting on behalf of the FCDO and concluded with DV clearance being granted by the FCDO.’

Dame Emily said: ‘It says he was vetted, and it says he was appointed, but it doesn’t say it was overridden… I’m saying is that, you know, people have basically been telling us half the story.’

Sir Keir has faced calls to stand down over the matter.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said: ‘It is preposterous for Starmer to claim he did not know Mandelson failed security vetting.

‘If the Prime Minister doesn’t know what’s happening in his own office, he shouldn’t be in charge of our country. He should go.’

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said: ‘If this is true, the PM should’ve told Parliament at the earliest opportunity, not waited for the media to force the truth out.

‘His failure to do that alone is surely a breach of the Ministerial Code.’

The Green Party and Reform UK have both called for Sir Keir to resign.

Lord Mandelson, a political appointment rather than a career diplomat, was sacked from his Washington role last September when more details emerged about his relationship with Epstein, who died in 2019.

Sir Keir has been under fire over the decision to give Lord Mandelson the job despite it being known that his dealings with Epstein continued after the financier’s conviction for child sex offences.

Questions over his judgment intensified after the first batch of documents related to the decision published last month showed that he was warned before announcing Lord Mandelson’s ambassadorship of a ‘general reputational risk’ over his association with Epstein.

That warning stemmed from the first part of the checks, carried out by the Cabinet Office, which was based on information in the public domain at the time.

The second was the highly confidential background vetting by security officials, which followed the announcement but was before Lord Mandelson took up his role in February 2025.

Information unearthed in this process – including any concerns – is never shared with ministers, and the result is binary, either clearing the candidate or barring them.

Foreign Office officials deployed a rarely used authority to override the decision to deny Lord Mandelson clearance, and he was told days later that he had passed, according to The Guardian.

The Foreign Office has said it is urgently working to comply with Sir Keir Starmer’s request to establish how vetting was granted for Lord Peter Mandelson to become ambassador to the US.

An FCDO spokesperson said: ‘The Prime Minister has initiated a process to establish the facts of the granting of developed vetting and we are working urgently to comply with that process.’

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The Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed that Income Support and income-related Jobseeker’s Allowance have now been closed as part of a major DWP benefits overhaul, with claimants urged to switch to Universal Credit

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has stopped payments on two benefits as part of a sweeping reform of the welfare system.

The department has been steadily winding down older, so-called legacy benefits over recent years as it transitions claimants across to Universal Credit (UC). These outdated benefits are being abolished and consolidated into UC.

Claimants are not transferred automatically — they must submit an application themselves. Failure to do so puts them at risk of losing their entitlements entirely.

The most recent benefits to be axed are Income Support and income-related Jobseeker’s Allowance, reports Birmingham Live.

Both have now ceased to be paid out by the DWP. In their place, they have essentially been absorbed into UC, which has become the primary benefit in the UK.

Affected claimants should have received migration notices last year, giving them a three-month window in which to apply for the replacement benefit.

Hundreds of thousands have failed to complete this ‘migration’ process over recent years, consequently losing their benefits altogether.

In a recent statement, the DWP said: “The migration of customers from so-called legacy benefits to the country’s main benefit recommenced in May 2022, with the campaign helping to move over 1.9 million people, including 135,000 Income Support and income-related Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants.

“The success means those two benefits will close with customers now receiving Universal Credit – a benefit that better reflects today’s labour market and opens up a range of support to help people move closer to, or into work.”

Minister for Social Security and Disability, Sir Stephen Timms, said: “Our Move to Universal Credit campaign has been successful in moving over 1.9 million people from legacy benefits to the modern Universal Credit system.

“Vulnerable customers have been at the forefront of this campaign. In their interests, we are extending the deadline for income-related Employment Support Allowance claimants to move over.”

David Manning has lived in the UK for 38 years and has the right to live and work in the UK – but has been forced to stay in Turkey for a month after facing passport issues

A man has been left ‘stranded’ after he was denied entry back to the UK after celebrating his 30th wedding anniversary in America. Originally from New Zealand, David Manning called Bassingbourn in Cambridgeshire ‘home’ for 38 years.

Although he still has a New Zealand passport, David has a certificate of entitlement proving he has the right of abode in the UK. This means he can live and work in the UK without any restrictions.

On March 17, David was due to fly back on a British Airways (BA) flight to London Heathrow from Las Vegas with his wife Sarah, but was denied boarding. “On March 17, it all went pear-shaped,” said David.

The 59-year-old was told by BA staff that he couldn’t board the plane as his certificate of entitlement was not uploaded to his passport. David has had his passport for seven years, and said he hasn’t had trouble travelling before.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “From 25 February 2026, all dual British citizens need to present either a valid British passport or Certificate of Entitlement when travelling to the UK. Without one, carriers cannot verify British citizenship, which may lead to delays or refused boarding.” CambridgeshireLive understands that the Home Office will be in contact with Mr Manning regarding his situation.

“I can’t change what’s happened to me, but the key thing is I am frustrated,” he said. He said he was supposed to manually upload his right to abode to his current passport, but did not realise that this was now the case.

He added: “I have travelled with this passport for seven years just fine. I have the right to abode, but it’s not on the passport. How am I meant to know that the electronic certificate of entitlement hasn’t been transferred?”

As a result, David was unable to board his flight home, and his wife Sarah was left to travel alone. “I was left stranded – it wasn’t a great way to end our anniversary,” he said.

As he couldn’t get home, David then bought a ticket to Heathrow to fly onto Istanbul in Turkey, where he and his wife own a flat. He was able to transit through the airport, but would not have been able to go through border control and enter the country.

Since he has been in Turkey for nearly a month, he has had to apply through an agency for the Windrush Scheme. This allows people to get proof of their right to be in the UK if he came to the UK from any country before December 31, 1988, which he did.

Through this, he has had to provide evidence including his driving licence, NHS documents, council tax documents and more. He now has to wait to hear when he can get this.

David said: “The process could take months. Again, I can’t change what has happened to me, but my frustration is at the system.”

The Home Office spokesperson added: “Public information advising dual nationals to carry the correct documentation has been available since October 2024, with a substantive communications campaign on the introduction of ETA has been running since 2023. This requirement applies to all British citizens, regardless of other nationality, taking the same approach as other countries including the United States, Canada and Australia.”

Actors Judi Dench and Joanna Lumley have spoken out ahead of a key planning meeting tomorrow (Friday, April 16) to decide on Harrogate Spring Water’s proposal to increase the size of its plant in Harlow Moor Road, Harrogate.

Campaign groups and local politicians have criticised the plan, which would see the loss of around 500 trees in the Rotary Wood community woodland.

Rotary Wood. Photo: Caught Light Photography. Free to use with credit.

Speaking in support of the Pinewoods Conservation Group, which is contesting the plans, Dame Joanna OBE said that cutting down trees planted by children to develop a bottling plant was “dreadful in so many ways”.

She added: “Other locations could, and should, be considered if additional capacity is truly needed. This 20-year-old forest carrying the hopes of the next generation cannot be replaced. Only a swift U-turn can save the face of a company whose green credentials are already looking pretty suspect.

“Do a great right, do a little wrong and let those trees stand and grow, let children believe and trust in big business and in decisions made by grown-ups.”

Dame Judi has previously spoken out about the expansion.

Ahead of the meeting, she said: “At a time when the country is talking so urgently about biodiversity loss, climate pressure and the need to protect nature close to where people live, it is deeply troubling that a healthy community woodland could be treated as disposable.

“Once mature trees and established habitat are lost, they are not simply replaced by promises. The value of a place like Rotary Wood lies not only in the number of trees on a map, but in the life it already supports and in the relationship local people have built with it”.

More than 1,300 objections have been submitted by residents and campaigners, including those involved in planting the woodland around 20 years ago.

Local MP Tom Gordon said he had raised the issue in Parliament, adding: “This isn’t just about trees, it’s about whether a multinational corporation respects the democracy and the environment of the town it calls home.”

Critics say the move contradicts parent company Danone’s Forest Policy, which pledges “verified deforestation‑ and conversion‑free” supply chains by 2025 and a “forest‑positive” status by 2030.

Environmentalist and author, Jonathon Porritt, said: “You cannot call yourself ‘forest positive’ while cutting down a thriving community woodland planted by children. Rotary Wood is precisely the kind of living carbon store and biodiversity refuge we need to protect.

“If Danone wants credibility on climate and nature, the simplest, most powerful step it can take is to leave these trees standing.”

In response to the criticism of its plans,  Harrogate Spring Water said it had “worked constructively with council officers and listened closely to community concerns” throughout the planning process.

A spokesperon added: “We have committed to creating a new, publicly accessible two‑acre woodland connected to the Pinewoods, planting 491 native and more mature trees, and delivering around 3,000 trees across the district – six times more than would be lost.

“These plans are consistent with Danone’s commitments globally to sustainable, responsible development, including its Renewed Forest Policy.

 “Ultimately our goal remains to balance sustainable development and economic growth with care for the local environment and community.”

North Yorkshire Council officers have recommended that councillors approve the expansion when they meet at the Civic Centre in Harrogate.