The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Abattoir could be ready next August
A new abattoir for the north-east could be up and running in 16 months’ time.
ANM Group chairman Pete Watson, who farms at Darnford, near Banchory, told members at the organisation’s annual general meeting the estimated completion date for the new Scotbeef Inverurie abattoir is August next year.
The north-east farmers’ cooperative has a 25% share in Scotbeef Inverurie, with the remainder owned by JW Galloway Ltd which runs Scotbeef.
Mr Watson said a planning application had been lodged for the new abattoir, which is to be sited at the new Thainstone Business Park extension.
He said plans for the business park extension, which has been in the pipeline for the past five years, was awaiting the next stage of planning consent.
“ANM is doing everything in its power to deliver a site for the abattoir,” said Mr Watson.
“We are clearly frustrated by the delays in the planning process, but hopefully the May (planning) meeting will give us the go-ahead.”
ANM Group chief executive Grant Rogerson confirmed the new abattoir would only have a killing line for cattle to begin with.
When asked by a member why a sheep line was not being put into the new plant, Mr Rogerson said: “There is capacity within the new building to do it (add a sheep line) but at the moment Scotbeef doesn’t feel there is a requirement for it.
“Last month we averaged 770 sheep a week at North Street, including some brought up from down south.”
Meanwhile, executive director John Gregor said ANM had a strategy to widen its geographical reach and it was working hard to increase its presence in the west Highland and Angus regions.