Sir, – Regarding the planning application of the proposed new abattoir located near the Thainstone Centre, in Inverurie and after scrutiny of the proposal, I find it fails to meet any wider agricultural needs other than those of ScotBeef and their primary retail customers (mainly M and S).

Any planning approval to this development must be tied to serving the needs of the wider agricultural and food sector in Aberdeenshire. The recently unveiled plans and accompanying information state this is going to be a single species, cattle only facility. We must look at this proposal afresh and consider the possibilities it presents for the wider livestock sector, or currently doesn’t.

The proposal ignores sheep processing. Currently, sheep, both prime and cull, are transported south – prime lambs to Dumfries and Galloway and cull sheep to the English Midlands for the Halal market. 

Surely, it makes more sense to process sheep closer to point of production or sale, in Aberdeenshire. Aberdeenshire holds a lot of sheep, both breeding stock and lambs. Why totally ignore a significant part of the livestock sector?

Processing sheep closer to point of production reduces food miles and transport stress. It also provides additional employment in the plant at little extra build costs.

Aberdeenshire is renowned for its award-winning local butchers and small farmers selling at farmer’s markets but their entire entrepreneurial business relies on local slaughtering facilities. Currently, farmers and local butchers must transport cattle, sheep and pigs to abattoirs in Dingwall, Dunblane or Grantown on Spey.

Considering a central Aberdeenshire location, such as Alford or Huntly, would make more sense. Livestock must be transported unnecessary distances to an abattoir that accepts their livestock and every additional mile is an additional cost to the end consumer as well as additional welfare food miles.

We need to look again at this planning application and ensure that it serves the needs of the wider farming and food sector in Aberdeenshire and the north east of Scotland. This £20m development is in benefit of public monies, ie grants, to the sum of £4m and so it must contribute and meet the needs of a wider livestock and food industry than just processing prime cattle and a handful of mass market retailers.

To be granted full planning approval it must serve the needs of both large and small producers. It must process both prime and cull cattle, prime lambs and cull ewes even pigs. It must accommodate those producers who specialise in traditional cattle breeds with horns as Highland and Longhorn. Any public monies should be tied to these requirements.

Grant funding has been provided via taxation. It should work for the contributors, not exclude them. An abattoir is both a business and a service to the farming and local food community.

Logistically and financially, it is both easier and cheaper to transport processed livestock, ie carcases, than a live animal. Typically, a carcase weighs 50% of a live animal, hence a refrigerated lorry carries double compared to a livestock float transporting live animals.

This proposal fails to support the needs of the wider agricultural community in the north east of Scotland. Until it does meet these wider requirements, planning approval should be withheld.

Ian Duncan
Upper Robieston,
Huntly