'Moray should be like Champagne'
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A call has been made for a whisky tax to be introduced to benefit Moray the same way a drinks tariff helps France's Champagne region.
The remarks came earlier today during discussions on an application to build four warehouses on a 16-hectare site to the south of Crisp Maltings at Portgordon.
Moray Council's planning committee gave the application its unanimous backing.
However, councillor Derek Ross (Speyside/Glenlivet, Independent) asked for consideration to be given to introducing a small tax upon the whisky industry, with the proceeds going towards improving roads and infrastructure.
Cllr Ross stated that the high volume of heavy vehicles travelling to and from Moray's many distilleries was damaging the region's roads.
He said: "The amount of traffic through the villages, Rothes in particular, has become more and more in the last few years.
"I think we as an authority should be looking at what the Champagne region of France has, and that’s a spin off from the product.
"Just a tiny amount of taxation is taken by the local area.
"And that makes Champagne one of the wealthiest areas in France because of the product it produces.
"At the moment were going out on the roads and there’s potholes and the carriageways are churned up at the side.
"We all suffer the heavy lorries on our roads.
Cllr Ross continued: "Perhaps we could be looking at lobbying for a small amount of taxation for this area."
The application in Portgordon, which was put forward by William Grant and Sons Distillers Limited, includes the realignment of the Core Burn.
As it is unlikely to add much extra traffic to Moray roads, the council will not be seeking any financial contributions.
However, cllr Donald Gatt raised concerns over the amount of agricultural land being used for developments.
Prior to today's meeting cllr Gatt (Keith and Cullen, Conservative) had asked council officers how much farmland had been lost.
In response he was told the council did not keep such information.
Cllr Gatt said: "We’re all reliant on agriculture whether we like it or not, because it’s the farmers who produce the food we eat.
"It’s a concern of mine that we’re losing a terrific amount of agricultural land.
"I hope officers will take this into consideration for future local development plans.
"I’d rather see development on brownfield sites than greenfield sites and agricultural land."
He was advised there was an emphasis on using brownfield sites.
