Whisky continues to flow out of Moray
WHISKY continues to flow out of Moray and into all corners of the world, and that means good news for our area.
Diageo have written another chapter of the success story by announcing a £20 million investment, including a £9.5 million upgrade of its bio-plant at Dailuaine and upgrading at other distillers over the next two or three years.
The spending won’t mean a large number of new jobs in the distilleries themselves, but it will help local companies and businesses who are part of the whisky support chain, in building, maintenance work and transportation.
It all adds up to a major boost at an otherwise tough economic time, which sees many businesses struggling.
Diageo opened their £40 million distillery at Roseisle last year, and have been spending millions more at their own centre in Moray in recent years.
Pernod Ricard splashed out £10 million last year on a new expanded still house at Glenlivet Distillery.
All whisky companies have been spending to increase production, and to improve visitor centres to cope with the demand from visitors, drawn by the fascination of the product, to step along the whisky trail.
Emerging markets in Latin America, Africa and Asia have fuelled this sales explosion and Moray is benefiting greatly.
In Moray alone this industry is earning huge sums of money for the Treasury, and the UK Government should bear this in mind when it comes to supporting the area in coping with the damage done by the loss of the RAF from Kinloss – but surely not Lossie, too – and the effects of the recession in other sectors.
The UK and Scottish governments should be offering more aid to improve our roads to provide a more fitting whisky route for the heavy traffic in and out of Speyside.
Let’s be grateful for this great drink of ours, not just for its wonderful taste, but for the benefits it is bringing to our area.
WITTET DRIVE RESIDENTS IN DESPAIR
WITTET Drive residents admit to being in despair over the approval given this week to see their street to be used to help traffic flow through Elgin.
They have been fighting this since 2004, with the fear of homes having to be demolished and the effects this brings on the value of their investment in bricks and mortar.
Moray Council says this relief route is needed to show that Elgin is "open for business", and is capable of coming up with a plan to ease congestion and service other developments in that part of town. It is, the council says, for the greater good.
But no-one can grudge residents their feeling of despair, rejection and been "stitched up", and they have every right to challenge the local authority in order to safeguard their homes, investments and the peace and quiet of their area.
Council officials say it is important to "investigate" the effects of the road plan on residents and "work with the community to deliver".
The council is set to carry out immediate survey work which will enable it to establish with greater certainty which properties may be most affected.
A decision has been taken but it is not the end of the matter. Residents will fight on, others will join the debate. Let’s hear from you all.
