Drinks giant proposes huge development in Rothes
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The Edrington Group is proposing a huge warehouse development on the outskirts of Rothes.
The global drinks company is looking at building 21 maturation warehouses at Glenrothes Distillery, along with a filling store and a tree nursery
Measuring 68.5 hectares, which is about the size of 50 football pitches, the site includes a yard to the north of the distillery plus two farms that are no longer in use.
A proposal of application was originally lodged with Moray Council in January.
Members of the council's planning committee have now been asked to give feedback on the proposal before a full planning application is submitted.
Councillor Louise Nicol (Speyside/Glenlivet, SNP) highlighted there were popular walking routes in the area.
She also raised concerns on the potential impact on the environment of a fungus which is caused by ethanol in the air and is sometimes found on trees surrounding distilleries.
Ms Nicol said: "There’s a lot of wildlife. The first time I saw a badger in the wild was up there, and there’s foxes and squirrels in the area, too."
The site is partly covered by the Spey Valley Special Landscape Area designation in the local development plan, and includes five entries on the local Sites and Monuments Record.
Derek Ross (Speyside/Glenlivet, Independent) said: "I have concerns about further loss of greenfield agricultural land, which in time jeopardises our food security.
"I also have concerns about the amount of lorry movements in a community like Rothes that is already a bottleneck."
The Edrington Group will consult with Speyside Community Council.
An online public event on the proposals will also be held on a date still to be confirmed.
A planning application is expected to be submitted in the autumn.
