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Abandoned Peterhead factory could be brought back into use

The former Terex Powertrain plant in Peterhead.
The former Terex Powertrain plant in Peterhead.

Council bosses hope new plans for a disused factory will boost the economy of a north-east town.

The former Terex Powertrain plant in Peterhead closed its doors permanently in 2010 when the firm merged with Ellon-based LHF Engineering.

Employees who stayed on moved to the Ellon site, leaving the Catto Drive building empty.

Now council officers hope plans from an unnamed bidder to construct a new workshop, offices and yard on the land will bring the site back into use.

The proposals are contained in Aberdeenshire Council’s latest Economic Activity in Buchan update.

In a report on the future of the land, Stephen Archer, head of infrastructure services, says that even if the would-be developer backs out of the deal, the existing building would be demolished and replaced with small industrial units.

“Consultants have been instructed to provide a scheme and costs now rather than wait for the large scheme tenant to decide in order to minimise delay if they decide not to go ahead,” he said.

However, the proposal faces opposition from senior Peterhead councillor Alan Buchan.

Last night he said the proposal did not make sense for the centre of the town.

“This land could be used for the good of the community because it’s bang in the centre of Peterhead. That makes more sense,” he said.

“Why put a factory there when the whole infrastructure for factories is in the south side of the town?

“We should use the industrial land we already have for factory use. That is the last large piece of ground we have in the centre of Peterhead – we don’t have much of that left where we can build schools or other community facilities.”

The former Terex building came under criticism in 2011, when employees blamed the plant for their health problems.

Alistair Buchan and Kevin Grant successfully sued Terex when they developed industrial asthma.

Mr Buchan was forced to take early retirement after developing the disease, while Mr Grant changed career. The c causes breathing passages to shrink, swell or become inflamed or congested as a result of exposure to irritants in the workplace.