Plans for transforming an Aberdeenshire distillery into a designated conservation area have been rejected by council chiefs because the scheme failed to win the “hearts and minds” of the local community.
The proposal for Ardmore Distillery and the surrounding homes in Kennethmont, near Huntly, to become part of the authority’s conservation scheme was deferred last year after local residents raised concerns.
Councillors asked planners to undertake a further public consultation, based on a revised boundary area, but environmental planner, Steven Gray reported yesterday there had been a “mixed view” to the Marr Area Committee.
Chair Moira Ingleby acknowledged the amount of effort expended on the proposal but added: “Without all the residents coming round to the idea, we cannot agree to the recommendation to designate a conservation area.”
Councillor, Jill Webster, agreed that the local residents of Kennethmont did not want the conservation status, but added: “It wouldn’t be the end of the world, but we didn’t win the hearts and minds this time.”
Ardmore Distillery is already a listed building, but 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, a member of the Tap O Noth Community Council, lives next to the distillery and said last night: “It is really good news – I’m very pleased.
“It is good to know that we have been listened to and now, hopefully, they can move on and find somewhere else to conserve – somewhere that actually wants it.
“The distillery itself is a working place and consists of old and new buildings and they saw no merit in doing it either. It’s not like it’s doing tours or anything.”
Last year’s report to councillors also contained a response from the distillery, expressing concerns.
It read: “Ardmore Distillery does 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 potential additional costs and delays the distillery may face.”
