Distillery probe into black mould

Distilleries across the country have been plagued by complaints from residents of the mysterious mould appearing on their windows and walls.

Householders have blamed the vapours from the whisky warehouses - known as "the Angels’ share" - for the problem.

But the distillers have consistently denied the moulds have any link with their work - and hope the new investigation will prove it.

The investigation has been commissioned by the North British Distillery company, which wants to expand its whisky maturation operations in West Lothian by building four new warehouses in Addiewell.

The three-year study into the "black growth phenomenon" is due to start in October and is expected to cost tens of thousands of pounds.

The research comes after people living close to the West Lothian distillery, in the Muirhall area of Addie-well, complained a black mould was covering their walls, cars and windows. Similar complaints have been received by distilleries across Scotland. Ian Ford, company secretary at the North British Distillery, said: "We have never accepted the link which residents have claimed and we don’t believe a link will be established.

"We have worked with the residents, listened to their concerns and we are now going to carry out a study with wider companies in the industry."

The independent investigation is being carried out in collaboration with the National Environmental Research Council, Newcastle University and the Whisky Research Foundation.

Campbell Evans, spokesman for the Scotch Whisky Association, said he believed the investigation would prove the industry’s theory that the mould was a natural phenomenon in damp areas.

He said: "What has been done so far shows that these are common micro-organisms which are found across the country.

"You can find growth of these in farms, trees and other areas which have damp climates, so it’s not surprising that in a climate best suited to the slow maturation of whisky stocks that this stuff is around."

The Addiewell distillery recently spent thousands of pounds cleaning black growths from 11 houses in the Muirhall area, some of which are just 100 yards from its whisky bond.

Bernard Kane, chairman of the Muirhall Residents’ Association, said all the residents were looking for was a guarantee that the company would repeat the exercise every three years.

He said: "There is no doubt in my mind that the black growth is caused by the whisky bond. I have been to other whisky sites in the country where you can see the black growth on nearby houses.

"I don’t have much faith in this investigation because you can make a report say whatever you want it to. We just want a guarantee our houses will be maintained."

The North British Distillery plans to transfer its storage facilities out of Edinburgh to new, larger premises in West Lothian.

West Lothian Council demanded the company carry out a detailed study of the mould problem when it granted it outline planning permission for the new buildings.

Richard Hartland, the local authority’s development and building control manager, said that if the results of the investigation revealed that the black growth is directly associated with the whisky bond, the company would have to give a commitment to tackling the problem.