Springbank's sign Scotched?

by **Kintyre Forum News** » Mon May 04, 2009 8:59 pm

From Springbank's website at http://www.springbankdistillers.com/tasting-room/

Springbank's sign Scotched?

Monday, 27th April, 2009, 4:27 pm, posted by SB-Ranald

ONE OF the whisky world’s most famous names could have its bid to be part of Scotland’s Homecoming celebrations dashed by council red tape.

J&A Mitchell & Co Ltd, owner of Springbank and Mitchell's Glengyle Distilleries in Campbeltown, is planning on throwing open its doors to the public as part of the Scottish Government’s whisky month, part of the 2009 Year of Homecoming.

Staff at Springbank and its sister distillery Glengyle, also in Campbeltown, are holding an open day on May 21st and have erected a sign on the road to the Mull of Kintyre town to let potential visitors who may not be familiar with the geography of Scotland’s west coast know just where the distilleries are.

However, Argyll and Bute Council have ordered the company to take the sign down, leading to fears that potential visitors will be put off making the trip to Campbeltown.

The council’s position is that the sign must have planning permission and also breaches advertising regulations. In their letter demanding its removal, planners also state that planning permission is unlikely to be granted at any time.

Neil Clapperton, Managing Director of J&A Mitchell, was furious when he learned of the council’s letter.

He said: ‘This letter is a nonsense. The council official who wrote is says that permission is unlikely to be granted but who is he to make such a judgement? That is surely a matter for our elected representatives to decide at a planning meeting.

‘All we are trying to do is provide information for prospective visitors so that they know where our distilleries are and how to get to them. Bringing visitors to Campbeltown is crucial to the local economy and I’m staggered that Argyll and Bute Council should take an attitude like this without even speaking to us to find out the story behind what we are trying to do.’

Director of Production Frank McHardy added: ‘The First Minister has encouraged Scottish people and companies to get involved with Scottish Homecoming Year and J & A Mitchell are no exception, having for some time planned an open day at our distilleries in Campbeltown to fit in with other celebrations of whisky taking place during May. By adopting what J & A Mitchell consider to be a blinkered approach by the planning department of Argyll and Bute Council another good idea to attract more people to the Kintyre area would appear to have been Scotched.’

Campbeltown was once known as the whisky capital of Scotland, with more than 30 distilleries working in the town.

Today there are three working distilleries and the area is recognised as one of the country’s five whisky producing regions.

J&A Mitchell is an independent, family-owned company which practices traditional, hands-on distilling.

Springbank is the only distillery in the country which carries out the entire production process and produces a whisky popular with connoisseurs across the globe.

by **campbeltownx** » Mon May 04, 2009 9:14 pm

I get the point, in that Springbank are trying to help/encourage visitors but they are also a business who may profit from advertising. Also you can't just go erecting signs where ever you want. If it's been planned then they should know to ask the council for permission!! The council get a hard time from all angles but they are just doing their job. If someone at Springbank was as good at their job, they wouldn't have this issue.

by **Beachcomber** » Mon May 04, 2009 10:32 pm

campbeltownx wrote:Also you can't just go erecting signs where ever you want. If it's been planned then they should know to ask the council for permission!!

Unless you're the council, of course, or a political party at election time, who appear to be able to throw up any number of signs whenever and wherever they feel like it without applying for plannning permission.

by **Buzz Lightyear** » Mon May 04, 2009 11:32 pm

Put the sign in a farmers field buy the side of the road, they canna do anything then.

If i remember right seatours and Tesco advertised in the field to the left when coming into the town. :wink:

by **WC1** » Tue May 05, 2009 6:32 am

or a political party at election time, who appear to be able to throw up any number of signs whenever and wherever they feel like it without applying for plannning permission

Putting up posters at election time is covered by a section of the Representation of the People Act which basically exempts them from planning requirements. However, they must be taken down again after the election.

by **mrn** » Tue May 05, 2009 10:06 am

Buzz Lightyear wrote:Put the sign in a farmers field buy the side of the road, they canna do anything then.

If i remember right seatours and Tesco advertised in the field to the left when coming into the town.

What is it with people thinking if you put anything in a farmers field it is exempt from planning? First it was caravans now signs. Given the amount of arable land in Kintyre do you really think "they canna do anything"?

by **Malky** » Tue May 05, 2009 10:52 am

The signs in farmer's fields were always on an object that was moveable eg a trailer or suchlike. That way the sign is not permanently fixed and is deemed temporary. So stick the sign on and old car/trailer/tractor or something and move it slightly every day or so. By the time the council get round to sorting things out the event will be past. :wink:

Malky

by **Kintyre Lad** » Tue May 05, 2009 5:46 pm

Malky wrote:The signs in farmer's fields were always on an object that was moveable eg a trailer or suchlike. That way the sign is not permanently fixed and is deemed temporary. So stick the sign on and old car/trailer/tractor or something and move it slightly every day or so. By the time the council get round to sorting things out the event will be past.

Malky

Yes that is indeed the way to get round it Malky.

Where exactly is the sign?

by **4th gen Suthen'** » Tue May 05, 2009 6:55 pm

I think Malky is due a free bottle of Springbank for that advice. And I mean a 40ozer!

by **Radio** » Tue May 05, 2009 7:02 pm

Argyll FM tried to get signs up at the side of the road years ago and were advised that they would not be permitted. We just wanted to let people know the frequency.
Yet driving on the M8 into Glasgow there is at least one roadside sign ‘advertising’ the frequency of Radio Scotland and Clyde! (I know it will be a different council)

Maybe we can only advertise cemeteries. The one at Tarbert has plenty

by **katya** » Tue May 05, 2009 7:22 pm

The Springbank sign is in the lay-by beyond Mundells yard - and is on a trailer.
Tesco and Seatours had signs at the town limits for a couple of years, although a third business added one and there was a complaint to the council. The planners ordered that all 3 be taken down, and if they applied for permission they would most likely not be allowed.
Oban FM also advertise just outside of their town btw :?:

not sure why that should be any different...

by **Malky** » Tue May 05, 2009 8:16 pm

katya wrote:The Springbank sign is in the lay-by beyond Mundells yard - and is on a trailer.

Yeah, I saw it on the way back from Tarbert this evening.

4th gen Suthen' wrote:I think Malky is due a free bottle of Springbank for that advice.

Plan A not working then 4th gen - we'll need to come up with another. My stock of Springbank is running low - I haven't a clue where it's going

Malky

by **campbeltownx** » Tue May 05, 2009 9:43 pm

I guess they will take each one on it's own merits. For example if it's beside the road (depends exactly where) and a driver tries to read it, then it might not be safe. I'm sure the council will be following guidelines and not trying to be unfair or treat people differently.