A MAJOR Scottish dairy company has threatened to relocate a Midlothian
depot employing 85 people if it fails to get local authority support for
a planning application for a car park.
The application has annoyed district councillor George Purcell, who
said yesterday he did not believe the business of East Kilbride-based
Robert Wiseman Dairies would be jeopardised if the application, which is
contrary to two local plans, was rejected.
''I am not too happy about the tone of the letter,'' said Mr Purcell,
who represents the ward at Loanhead where the company runs an operation
at Edgefield industrial estate.
In a letter to this week's planning committee, agents for the company,
seeking a change of use of agricultural land to parking space, said:''If
Wisemans do not obtain planning permission in respect for this strip of
land, then they will have no alternative than to relocate from Loanhead
where they rely on the local workforce.''
On Wednesday, the committee agreed by seven votes to four to grant
consent to the application which is being opposed by a number of
householders who claim the extension would increase noise and pollution
from lorries.
Planning officers recommended the application be refused as contrary
to the adopted Local Plan for the area and to the approved Lothian
Region Structure Plan. Mr Purcell said he fully supported this.
In the agents' letter, the company said it had suffered severe space
restrictions at the depot.
It emphasised it would include landscaping and screening measures and
maintained the industrial estate was well established before
construction of houses in nearby Mayshade Road.
Managing director Robert Wiseman said in a letter the company could
not allow the current situation to continue.
''Over the years, we have been a significant employer at Loanhead and
if we had no option but to relocate our operations, then this would have
a significant effect on the future of our workforce.''
In July, Robert Wiseman Dairies, which the previous month had bought
the Scottish milk distribution business of the Co-operative Wholesale
Society for #6.6m, announced it was to close a CWS dairy employing
around 70 workers in Titwood Road, Glasgow.
At the time, Mr Wiseman said the creamery did not meet the high
standards customers demanded and he also claimed the dairy had been the
subject of repeated complaints from residents over noise and traffic
movements.
The Loanhead planning application will now go to a joint planning
liaison committee representing Lothian local authorities and is expected
to be debated later by the full council. It may be called in by the
Scottish Secretary.
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