FOURTEEN new whisky maturation warehouses have been approved by North Ayrshire Council at the Chivas Brothers Willowyard site near Beith, despite objections by local groups.

The decision on the planning application had been delayed from October to allow officers more time to gather information on stemming the release of ethanol, regarded locally as being responsible for the blight of ‘whisky fungus’ which coats property and vehicles near the whisky bonds.

Last week, despite concerns raised by the Beith Heritage and Cultural Society (BCHS) and local councillor John Bell about the loss of amenity to the area and an increase in the unsightly black growth, planning officers recommended approval of the new storage warehouses.

Suggestions had been made to install devices called thermal oxidisers in the warehouses to burn off the ethanol and prevent further spread of the fungus.

This was rejected by planners on the advice of Chivas Brothers, who say not enough ethanol is given off to be effective.

They also say the high temperatures at which oxidisers work would be a fire hazard – an opinion which was backed up by the Health and Safety Executive.

Tom Hart of BCHS is also upset that despite the group being designated by NAC as consultees – in ‘lieu of a Beith Community Council’, they were never approached for their views.

Mr Hart said: “Following pressure from BHCS, it was decided by NAC that any further applications for extensions to the whisky bond would be treated as a major planning application requiring full public consultation and BHCS given consultative status in the absence of a Beith and District Community Council.” However, Mr Hart says the group was never approached and was unable to speak at the Planning meeting, as there is no provision for this in the planning committee’s procedures.

Mr Hart has written to Elma Murray, chief executive of NAC, complaining about the lack of consultation.

He writes: “The Society would submit that councillors did not have before them sufficient evidence to make an informed decision and that the matter should come before the full Council for reconsideration or referral to a full inquiry.” The Society’s worries include a lack of any employment benefit to the area and concerns about the environment and conservation which did not exist when the Chivas-owned land was zoned for industrial use.

Revised plans by Chivas for the site have sought to address objections by camouflaging the new units by painting them olive green and retaining an avenue of trees on the site of now demolished Mains House.

Planning Committee members John Bell and Joe Cullinane proposed a motion to have the application rejected, however, they were overruled by the rest of the committee.

Councillor Bell commented: “I am disappointed that Chivas have not voluntarily decided to implement some mitigating measures in the design of the warehouses to limit the release of ethanol, a greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere.

“Residents living close to the bond are already having their property covered in the black whisky fungus and additional warehouses will widen the affected areas.

“The technology exists to deal with the problem but unfortunately the council can not currently force the warehouse owners to use it.

“I moved that the application be refused as in my opinion the company should not be allowed to build additional warehouses until they clean up their act.

Planning chief Jim Miller accepted that the whisky fungus is a nuisance but ‘not a statutory nuisance’ meaning the council is powerless to serve any abatement order on Chivas Brothers to prevent it.

A spokesperson for North Ayrshire Council said: “Environmental Health officers recently investigated following a complaint about whisky fungus in Beith.

“Although some staining was observed on properties and trees there was no evidence to suggest there is an existing statutory nuisance.

“A definitive investigative report into whisky fungus conducted by Health Protection Scotland concluded that this type of black mould presents no health risk to normal healthy individuals.

“Statutory nuisance does not deal with harm to property.” A spokesperson for Chivas Brother said: “Planning consent for the Willowyard development has been granted by North Ayrshire Council.

“This permission was given based on certain conditions, which Chivas Brothers will work with the council and the local community to fulfil.

“Chivas Brothers has also received further requests from local groups which we are considering.