Coldstones quarry

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Hardingpr co-ordinated the public relations campaign which helped persuade North Yorkshire County Council to approve a planning application which secures the long-term future of Hanson Aggregates' Coldstones quarry at Greenhow, near Pateley Bridge. The original application was rejected in 2004 but a more focused approach by the project team, particularly on gaining local community support, helped secure widespread acceptance of the re-submitted scheme. The pr campaign, included positive press releases, open evenings to explain the revised plans, petitions and letters of support from employees, contractors, lorry drivers and the local community.

Great Yarmouth Information / Press Days

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The perceived impacts of dredging for marine aggregates is a contentious issue along the east coast of the UK, which for centuries has been affected by coastal erosion. Hanson Marine's decision to apply for an extension of its licence to dredge in an area off Great Yarmouth caused considerable interest from the media, MPs and the public. Hardingpr was tasked with bringing balance to the debate, following a number of inaccurate and misleading statements from local protest groups. Hardingpr organised a public information day at Great Yarmouth Racecourse which attracted considerable media coverage. Some 300 people listened to experts from the company and the industry explain how coastal erosion occurs and how dredging has no impact on the coastline or beaches. This was followed by a trip on a dredger by journalists from BBC Radio Norfolk and the Yarmouth Mercury newspaper, who both presented a much more balanced view of the issues. The outcome was that local residents are now accepting fair and balanced information from the media, supported by explanatory literature from Hanson.

BMAPA - Greenpeace

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The marine aggregate dredging industry found itself, along with a number of other users of the sea, under attack from leading campaign group Greenpeace about potential damage to the seabed. Hardingpr was asked by the trade association, The British Marine Aggregate Producers Association to counter the negative messages being circulated by the campaign group. Hardingpr was able to limit the impact of the campaign with well-placed media articles and TV and radio interviews, as well as advising the association to engage with Green Peace to discuss their concerns. Those discussions proved worthwhile as the industry is no longer a target of the Greenpeace campaign.

Stagecraft - Retail Solutions

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Retail Solutions is a series of case studies developed for Stagecraft, the UK's leading shop-fit display specialists to garden centres and DIY groups. The brochures are mailed out to businesses on the company's client data-base and to prospective clients. Retail Solutions covers such issues as checkouts and counters, houseplant tables and Christmas displays, with the aim of providing display ideas for clients and consequently generating more business for Stagecraft. The company's managing director, Tom Davis, said: "The Retail Solutions series has proved popular with our clients. The brochures cover individual topics, which build up into an excellent reference document."