Landowners connected with Wick’s Pulteney Distillery proposal hit back at ‘nimbyism’ of objectors
The landowners of the area proposed for a controversial extension to Pulteney Distillery in Wick have hit back at objections made at last week’s community council meeting.
David and Hamish Lamb, offshore workers from Wick, inherited the ground from their late father, who they say always expected the distillery to purchase and develop the ground there for making its world famous whisky, Old Pulteney.
“Our father, the original landowner, deliberately retained two plots adjacent to the Telford Lade, on the road side, intending them for access for future development,” said David Lamb.
“He always thought, and hoped, it would eventually be part of the Pulteney Distillery.”
At last week’s meeting of the Royal Burgh of Wick Community Council, Keith Macadie spoke for a group of eight residents objecting to the proposal on the grounds that there are possible health hazards associated with the whisky-making process through a vapour produced called angels’ share; that the site will be an industrial eyesore; that very few extra jobs would be created; unsightly mould would form on nearby buildings from the vapours; and that there would infrastructure issues with lorries using the site.
Mr Macadie said the group is not against Pulteney Distillery’s expansion but feels a better site could be found, such as near Wick airport. “The way it’s coming across is we’re trying to stop the progression of the town, but that’s not the case. We want to see growth in this town. We’re all from here and we’re all proud of Old Pulteney, and the chances are most of us will drink Old Pulteney,” he added.
David Lamb said that concerns about road congestion and infrastructure are exaggerated. “The town routinely accommodates heavy and complex loads, such as tow heads for Subsea 7 and components for wind turbines – loads far larger than a standard lorry delivering whisky. While there was initial opposition to these movements, they are now a routine part of life in Wick.”
He added: “Some objectors seem to believe that buying a home near this land gives them control over how it’s used. In truth, they purchased a property with a large garden, not ownership of adjacent land.
“If this land were sold for housing, it would involve the construction of roads, street lighting, and months of disruptive building work. Every existing house would then back onto new developments. I have no doubt there would be just as many complaints in that scenario. This seems to be a classic case of ‘not in my back yard’.
“When Wick was a thriving industrial community, partly due to the fishing industry, the area regularly accommodated significant transport activity. I recall two of Steven’s lorry drivers who would often park their articulated lorries in the street without issue. No one blinked an eye, because the area housed the distillery, coal yards, fish processing, and haulage businesses – it was, and still is, an industrial part of town.”
Hamish Lamb says he lives near the distillery and has had no issues with the blackening seen on some buildings in that area, allegedly caused by a black mould from the angels’ share vapours. “I live considerably closer to the existing distillery than many of the objectors.
“I have never noticed any issues with black fungus on my house or car. I suffer from asthma, live in a light-coloured building, and drive a white car – none of which have shown any signs of being affected.”
Both brothers say that they have researched the possible health issues related to angels’ share vapours and say there is no clear evidence that it causes breathing problems.
The landowners believe the blackening may be a product of Wick’s industrial heritage and is “overwhelmingly likely” due to herring curing kilns and smokehouses near the harbour; dense smoke carried by prevailing winds from barley drying kilns fired with peat and coal; smaller workshops, bakeries, and smithies; along with coal and peat smoke pollution from domestic fires before the Clean Air Acts came into force.
A former fisherman, David Lamb said the era of peak herring fishing (mid-19th to early 20th century) coincided with the era of ubiquitous coal burning for domestic and industrial use. “Prevailing winds carrying industrial smoke uphill over the town, is the definitive explanation for the historical blackish staining found on buildings throughout Pulteneytown, including those in higher areas set back from the harbour. This soot deposition was a hallmark of virtually all industrial-era British towns.”
In reference to Mr Macadie’s belief that there would only be around four people running the proposed whisky warehouses, Mr Lamb said it is “well documented that for every job created directly by a distillery, several more are supported indirectly across related sectors”.
“Estimates suggest that each direct distillery job can generate up to six additional roles in industries such as agriculture, transportation, packaging, sales, marketing, retail, and tourism.”
Despite having an obvious commercial interest in selling the land, the Lamb brothers say the area has been on the market for many years and the proposal would transform an unsightly piece of wasteground blighted by fly-tipping into a development that would “help keep Wick and Pulteneytown firmly on the world map”.
They deny the warehouses will be an eyesore and say the area around them will be landscaped and the buildings sited “behind the block-built walls of householders’ back gardens”.
They add: “The distillery is situated in one of the oldest parts of Pulteneytown, and the name Old Pulteney is deeply rooted in the area's history. The Mill Lade, a watercourse designed by Thomas Telford, plays a crucial role in supplying the distillery with fresh water from Loch Hempriggs. The distillery manages and maintains it.
“Some have suggested relocating the development to industrial sites or the airport, but this would mean abandoning the distillery's historic roots in Pulteneytown and moving to the Wick side.”
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