For Argyll has long been focusing on the absence of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy from Clydeport and from most of the businesses held under Peel Holdings, the private sector mega-group owned by the elusive billionaire, John Whittaker.

Yesterday’s Sunday Herald published the result of researches showing that there are over 100 businesses registered under the Peel name – with assets valued at over £4.5 billion.

Most of these are Isle of Man registered – where Whittaker himself lives at Billown Mansion. This convenient low tax regime allows the man and the companies legally to avoid taxes that would be payable elsewhere in the UK.

Clydeport, owned by Peel Ports and under Managing Director, Margaret Mackay, has failed to consult the coal comunity over the introduction to Loch Striven of container ships on long term lay up. It has also ignored elected representatives at all levels who have tried to persuade it to exercise social responsibility and talk to the affected community. In ignoring these requests, Mackay has been brusque in the extreme with the most senior of Government Ministers.

The company is beyond the reach of Government at any level since, although privately owned, it has statutory authority and the added advantage of the removal of the supervisory body, the rump of the former Clyde Port Authority, conveniently before Whittaker’s Peel Ports bought Clydeport Limited.

For Argyll is currently working through documents relating to this strange action and obtained from the Transport Department under Freedom of Information.

Whittaker and Peel Energy have been planning the construction of a new 1600MW coal-fired power station at Hunterston in Ayrshire (which Clydeport owns).

Given the impact of a dirty coal station on Scotland’s emissions targets, it is unusual, to say the least, that the Scottish Government has fast-tracked Peel’s application to build this station.

Last week, Peel’s major external investor in the project – the Danish company, Dong, pulled out of the deal. Whittaker, however, insists that it will go ahead as planned regardless.

There is concern that it is his intention to go to RBS to recuit it as an alternative investor in the scheme.

Green campaigners are now launchng a court action in London to prevent the bank – now publicly owned – from investing in socially ot environmentally damaging projects. This is due to be heard at the High Court in London tomorrrow (Tuesday 20th October).

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