Hearts want cocaine factory's expansion kicked into touch

IT is one of the few places which is legally allowed to make cocaine.

Pharmaceutical giant Macfarlan Smith manufactures the drug for hospitals to use as a painkiller.

But its plans to expand its operation in Gorgie have attracted objections from Hearts, whose Tynecastle ground is near the chemical plant, which handles hazardous substances.

Hearts are objecting because they fear it may prevent their own plans for redeveloping the stadium. They fear any possible extension of an exclusion zone around Macfarlan Smith's Wheatfield Road site to stop development close to an area where there could be a chemical accident would scupper their plans.

After months of discussions it is understood plans for revamping the main stand at Tynecastle are to be submitted to the council over the coming weeks.

If the exclusion zone was expanded to include land which the club are looking at for the proposed redevelopment, it would force them back to the drawing board, as they would not be able to get safety certificates.

The application from Macfarlan Smith, giving the company formal consent to handle hazardous substances, is required by the company following the introduction of the Control of Major Accident Hazards (Scotland) Act in 2000.

It also sets out some internal site changes planned by the company which would increase the quantities of chemicals it can store on site. A letter objecting to the proposal, submitted by the club, reads: "A key concern is that the storage of hazardous substances could have a detrimental effect on the redevelopment potential of the Tynecastle Park site.

"Specifically, further storage of hazardous material could have an effect on the Control of Major Accident Hazard constraints.

"Hearts FC would not wish to see any further constraints that would affect the future development of their property.

"The Tynecastle Park site has significant potential to contribute to the major regeneration of the Gorgie area and we believe the council should not approve any development that could significantly blight this potential."

An objection was also lodged on behalf of the North British Distillery Company, also in Wheatfield Road, raising similar concerns about the possible effect on development.

Part of the Johnson Matthey group, Macfarlan Smith is Britain's only licensed opium processor and one of the country's largest manufacturers of diamorphine. At its plant the firm makes pharmaceutical cocaine, morphine and methadone among other drugs.

It also manufactures more dangerous chemicals, including the painkiller fentanyl, a heroin-like chemical 100 times more potent than morphine.

Earlier this year five workers at the plant had to be treated in hospital for breathing problems and irritated eyes after a hydrochloric acid leak.

Seven more workers were treated with oxygen by paramedics at the scene, and the accident sparked a health and safety investigation.

A spokesman for the Health and Safety Executive said: "There was no formal enforcement action taken, although we did bring to the company's attention a number of deficiencies in relation to the general safety of the site, which we believe have now been rectified."

The HSE has studied the proposals by Macfarlan Smith and said it would not advise against granting the application, as long as a condition was included stating that the storage and use of any hazardous substances must be carefully controlled on site.

Ward councillor Kingsley Thomas said: "The difficulty Hearts have is that if they apply for any extension of the stand they will run up against the same problem the council did with its plans to extend the local school and that is that the land there falls within the safety exclusion zone."

No-one from Macfarlan Smith was available for comment.

Taken from the Scotsman