Donald Trump golf course rejected by council
08/08/2007 00:00:00 November, 2007. The Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) has applauded a landmark decision by Aberdeenshire Infrastructure Services Committee to reject Donald Trump’s outline planning application for golf course resort development at Balmedie north of Aberdeen. The proposal would have seen the destruction of a one of the most spectacular dune habitats in Scotland, a site specially designated due to its national importance.
The rejection overrules the approval given by the Formantine Planning Committee of Aberdeenshire Council. Paul F. Gallagher, SWT’s National Planning Co-ordinator said: ‘Today’s decision is a clear victory for the environment over the dollar. The Scottish Wildlife Trust voiced concerns over the environmental impact this development would have on one of top five sand dune systems in the UK and Trump’s organisation (TIGLS) ignored all calls for this development to be moved away from this sensitive area.
Under the provisions of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 local authorities, such as Aberdeenshire Council, have a statutory duty to conserve biodiversity. This is the right and proper decision and just shows that the people of Aberdeenshire consider and care for their local environment. ‘
Owen Vaughan, local Aberdeenshire resident and SWT member said: ‘I am delighted to see the Council has recognised its duty to protect the environment for the benefit of the local community and Scotland.’ TIGLS has the right to appeal against this decision. Appeal to Scottish Government
Following the rejection, Trump has the right to appeal, and the final decision may rest with the Scottish parliament. However the RSPB Scotland today called on ministers to take a dispassionate look at Donald Trump's application to develop a hotel, housing and golf complex at Menie Estate.
Commenting on the decision to call the application in for consideration by the Scottish Government, Stuart Housden, director of RSPB Scotland, said: 'Ministers should not be hurried or bullied by the strong-arm tactics of Donald Trump. The Infrastructure Services Committee of Aberdeenshire Council took a carefully considered and principled decision when they voted to reject his planning application. The proposed development is both contrary to the Council's own policies and predicted to destroy one third of a nationally important wildlife site.
'We call on ministers to take a cool look at this development and its impact on Scotland's priceless natural heritage. Failure to do so will simply serve to declare open season on all our protected areas. There is plenty of room for Mr Trump to achieve the main part of his development without destruction of the SSSI dunes. The suggestion by Mr Trump that he can simply relocate, at least in Europe, is a fallacy. European law requires all member states to adopt the same environmental assessment processes as we use in Scotland. A quick fix elsewhere is unlikely and it would take many months for him to put together an alternative. Instead, the time should be used to find a workable solution for golf and Scotland's natural heritage.'
