PLANS to expand the whisky maturation bond at Willowyard near Beith continue to dismay local residents.

Beith Cultural and Heritage Society (BCHS) is encouraging locals to submit their objections to meet the closing date today (Wednesday, September 3).

Chivas Brothers intend building 14 extra bond warehouses north of the Mains Burn with the loss of a considerable number of mature trees.

The application is in addition to permission already granted for three lochside bonds now nearing completion, plus three other bonds within the site south of the Mains Burn.

There is also a pending decision an application for two bonds on the east side of the site which is likely to be approved.

At a meeting of the committee of BCHS on August 27, it was agreed the Society will maintain its previous view that development north of the Mains Burn was ‘highly undesirable’ and that plans should be amended to ensure less intensive further development as they believe there is space within the area south of the Mains Burn to allow further expansion to meet the immediate requirements of Chivas pending the identification and approval of other sites for use after 2020.

The meeting also concluded that it is vital to ensure improved screening of present bonds and other approved bonds including the extension of screening to land already owned by Chivas between the present railway line and the east shore of Kilbirnie Loch – with treatment of this area also including completion of a wheelchair-friendly foot and cycle path along the loch from Glengarnock Lochshore parkland to the Beith-Kerse road.

The committee agreed the extension of the new olive green coloured cladding being applied to the loch-facing side of new warehouses fronting the loch should also include the entire external surfaces (including roofs) of all existing and future bonds, reducing the visual impact.

In action separate from planning applications, the Society is also looking for greater involvement of both Chivas and North Ayrshire Council in community, environment and job-encouraging projects in the Garnock Valley.

Committe chairman Tom Hart said: “The Society is encouraging other groups and individuals in the Garnock Valley either to add their support to the Society’s views or to make their own representations to North Ayrshire Council and other interested parties no later than today September 3.”