Donald Trump is still fighting for his dream of having a golf resort in Scotland. Today he was in Aberdeen fighting for the right to build his $2 billion golf course complex. The development is planned for a 1,400 acre site in the dunes dunes on the Menie Estate at Balmedie. Environmentalists says the resort will destroy an area of natural importance but local businesses are looking forward to increased tourism dollars. His plans were narrowly rejected by the Aberdeenshire Council late last year. Trump has since been spotted real estate shopping in Ireland but it looks like he's not ready to let his Scottish dream die quite yet.
Trump spoke passionately about the site and his scheme to create two championship golf courses, a luxury hotel with 450 bedrooms, and approximately 1,000 timeshare condominiums and 500 luxury homes. He touted his matrilineal connection to the land (his mother is Scottish) and said that the development would create the "world's greatest golf course." The AP reports that the discussion got heated. David Tildsley, representing the Scottish Wildlife Trust, said that Trump had ignored the advice of his own consultants on the environment. Trump replied that he knows more than his consultants and said he considers himself "an environmentalist in the true sense of the word."
A decision is expected sometime in July.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-10-2008 @ 11:11PM
alex said...
Well when someone as rich as trump has their mind set on something they will usually get what it is they want despite logic and reason, so i'm not holding out much hope for the environment on this one...
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6-11-2008 @ 2:10AM
Russ said...
So I should buy a small property in Balmedie to rent out to golfers then?
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6-11-2008 @ 11:56AM
Steve Combe said...
As a Scot I applaud Trump's vision. It will bring desperately needed jobs and income to an area that has lost so much with the decline of the scottish oil industry. It wil also bring a broader income to Scotland as a whole. The development will actually have a very small longterm impact on the sand dune habitat of the local wildlife and will not affect Balmedie Beach and Country Park. Scottish Natural Heritage need to get their heads out of their own a*ses and look at the longterm benefits not only of the economy but of the area as a whole. 20% of Scotland are protected areas controlled by Scottish Natural Heritage and Trumps golf course plans intrude upon only a small part of dunes. Even the most ardent environmentalist must concede that a long term effect is negligable if any. I think that it is really either a "jobsworth" situation or someone isnt getting their palms greased.
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