Liberty¡¯s alloy wheel manufacturing facility planning is still on progress: Operators confirm

The operators have confirmed that Liberty smelter plant is still on progress with its plan for establishing an alloy wheel manufacturing facility at Fort William.

According to the report, Highland councillor Andrew Baxter and his colleagues lambasted the aluminium company last week for its slow progress on planning. But Liberty Aluminium Lochaber Ltd insisted in return that there were no delays and confirmed order books were open at the north plant. It further said workers already moved into temporary offices on the development site.

Liberty also said that it was looking for 400 semi-skilled employees who would be based in the smelter and confirmed that plant managers were already in correspondence with the UK car manufacturers for orders of aluminium wheels.

However, a definite date of production starting on the site is unknown.

A spokesman for Liberty UK said: “Once again there are no delays to the project, what we are doing, is exploring the opportunity to future proof the operation to allow the possibly to expand its capacity.”

“The bulk of the work to get us ready for factory construction is still progressing but the decision on the final size of the operation that will be built is still under consideration.”

“Discussions are ongoing with motor manufacturers to determine exactly when wheels from Lochaber will be needed and this will also help inform the schedule for the operation.”

He continued: “Projects like this take time, but there has been progress.

“Our consultants, including environmental experts, are helping us to meet the range of conditions associated with its planning permission for the project and have been compiling specialist reports on issues such as transport, drainage, soil quality, archaeology, construction methods and environmental mitigation which are all required by the planning consent.”

“We’ll be issuing updates to the local community and councils to keep them informed of progress in due course.”

The facility involves an investment in excess of £130 million, claiming to create hundreds of jobs.

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