Wick residents fear health implications of whisky fungus and damage to property with Pulteney Distillery expansion
At a meeting of Wick’s community council on Monday, a group of concerned residents voiced their fears over plans for whisky warehouses to be sited close to their homes.
Eight people who live close to Pulteney Distillery, where Old Pulteney whisky is made, attended the Royal Burgh of Wick Community Council (RBWCC) meeting on July 7 and let their views be known to members.
“The community council has received a few emails from residents who live in the area concerned, and that’s greatly appreciated, but we’ll open up the meeting to hear what you have to say and discuss it after,” said the new RBWCC chair, Allan Bruce.
Keith Macadie, from the residents’ group, said: “The residents are supportive of Old Pulteney and their expansion but we are objecting to the location where the bonded warehouse is to be sited, slap bang in a residential area.
“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.
“We want to see the expansion, but we want to see it happen in the right place.”
One female resident said that her property backs onto the area where the proposed development for four new warehouses storing thousands of barrels of whisky will be built.
She said she had only recently heard about a fungus known as angels’ share mould, which is linked to the maturation process. The woman feared that this mould may adversely affect her property and others close to the site and may cause health issues.
In June 2023, the Northern Times reported that residents living close to a building in Brora used by Glenmorangie complained that their homes had become discoloured by the black fungus, caused by ethanol oozing from the thousands of casks in storage there, escaping into the atmosphere.
Mr Macadie went on to say that the angels’ share vapours could potentially affect a large swathe of the area surrounding the proposed site. He said that some of the buildings close to the Pulteney Distillery had been blackened by the mould and how this could affect house prices. The resident added that the fungus will not only affect buildings but could adhere to “cars, washing and clothing”.
“Also, look at the state of the road up there. You take an HGV up there, how are they going to turn?”
He believes that the lack of space for large vehicles manoeuvring may cause dangers to pedestrians and adversely affect the infrastructure of the road. “I can drive an HGV, so I know they will struggle to get round the corner up there.”
He described the warehouses as “ugly buildings” which will be coloured black, therefore not showing the effects of the black mould discolouration. Regarding local job opportunities, he said, “it only takes four people to run a warehouse” and that “security will be done remotely, so the area will need to be floodlit”.
One final point he made was concerning the historic water course running from Hempriggs loch called the Telford Lade, which was constructed in the early 1800s, and runs through the Pulteney Distillery. “It’s an engineering marvel, but it’s not used to make the whisky, but for the condenser.”
Speaking for the group, Mr Macadie said they emailed Highland councillors, along with Inver House Distillers (part of International Beverage Holdings), which owns Old Pulteney. “Only two councillors have got back to us so far.”
Co-opted RBWCC member Claire Mackenzie said: “Looking at the mould everyone is talking about, folks will say it’s not toxic. So if it’s not toxic, it could be cleaned down with a sponge and soapy liquid, but that’s not the case. There’s no scientific evidence to show what the long-term health effects of this are, so nobody can categorically state it’s safe.”
RBWCC member Rona Morrison appeared quite distraught over the issue. “I’m sorry, I’m feeling a bit emotional here. We just don’t know what effect this mould will have. It’s an unknown quantity.”
Mr Macadie said he has gone on an official tour of the Pulteney Distillery in which the public is informed about the angels’ share mould. “They know about it and they know it’s from the alcohol vapours. If they come back and say it’s not, we know it is, as there have been studies done to show that.”
Another resident said he had a family member with lung problems, and he feared what effects the vapours may have on those living close by. It was also noticeable that one woman in the group was breathing with the aid of an oxygen cylinder.
The RBWCC chair noted all the points from the residents’ group and said there will be further consultations on the matter. “We will need to discuss that and then give representation as a community council,” said Mr Bruce.
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A reply to the residents’ fears was received yesterday afternoon (July 10) from the owner of the Pulteney Distillery.
The comment came on behalf of Alan Mitchell, director of operations at International Beverage and states: “The planning application at Pulteney Distillery is part of an investment in the future of our globally cherished Old Pulteney whisky, as we prepare to celebrate an incredible milestone - 200 years of distilling in the heart of Wick next year.
“We have had meetings with the local council and consulted with all the relevant agencies in the development of our application. We can reassure residents that during the public consultation period, we will be attentively reviewing all comments submitted by members of the public, whether they are in support or have questions and concerns.
“As a business with deep, long-standing roots in the town and wider Caithness community, it's incredibly important to us that we engage with local people about this development.
“We will listen, discuss, and share our vision for the future of Pulteney Distillery once we have all the correct planning inputs, comments and statutory responses confirmed which is likely to be in September.”
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