Councillors are being urged to rethink plans to make an Aberdeenshire distillery a designated conservation area.
Tap O’ Noth Community Council fear that if Ardmore Distillery and the surrounding homes in Kennethmont, near Huntly, are made a conservation zone it will put people off moving to the area.
The proposals were first put forward by Aberdeenshire Council last year, but were deferred when locals asked planners to rethink the boundaries of the site and then undertake a further public consultation.
A conservation area is defined as a site of architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve.
John Drysdale, from the community council, said: “We are totally against the conservation area for the surrounding area of the distillery.
“If people want to extend their houses in the future, they may be restricted from doing so, which could potentially lead to fewer people coming to the area.
“At the moment, the school is doing well because younger families are coming here, but, with a conservation area, people might be put off coming here.”
Last year’s report to councillors also contained a response from the distillery, expressing concerns.
It read: “Ardmore Distillery do not support the proposal for conservation area designation. This could place constraints upon their ability to develop the distillery to meet ever-changing technological and commercial demands.
“They also have concerns over the potential additional costs and delays that the distillery may face.”
Planning officer Steven Gray now reports that although support is “mixed and unsupportive” of the new boundary and only one resident gave support, the area is “worthy of conservation status”.
Mr Gray adds: “The view is further supported by Historic Environment Scotland.”
The proposed designation will be decided at the Marr area committee on Tuesday, where councillors will be urged to back it.
