from Sunday Herald, 16 August 2009
Plans by the US billionaire tycoon, Donald Trump, for a highly controversial hotel and golf resort on Scotland’s north east coast look likely to be blocked by the local council.
An investigation by the Sunday Herald has discovered that a majority of Aberdeenshire’s councillors are currently opposed to moves to force four families from their homes on the Menie estate near Balmedie in order to make way for the development.
Trump has said that without acquiring these properties, his £1 billion “world-class” leisure complex - for which he already has planning permission - will not be viable. This suggests that the development might now be doomed.
The Trump organisation has been trying to persuade the four families to sell their homes for the last four years, so far without success. Two of them have repeatedly said that they are determined not to move.
So Trump has asked Aberdeenshire Council to slap compulsory purchase orders on the properties to evict the families. This has provoked widespread anger, and is due to be discussed by the full council on 1 October.
But the Sunday Herald has been told that most of the 68 councillors are deeply unhappy about compulsory purchase, including the controlling LibDem/Conservative coalition and independent councillors. At the moment, there is a clear majority against the move.
The council’s LibDem leader, Anne Roberston, is said to have been privately telling close colleagues that she does not favour compulsory purchase. And senior LibDem sources have predicted that councillors “will kick it out”.
David Milne, whose home at Menie Links is one of those under threat, is now “fairly convinced” that he will not be evicted. He has been energetically lobbying councillors to protect his property, and is anticipating victory.
He has written to councillor Roberston, asking her to confirm her opposition to compulsory purchase. “I call upon you now to publicly reiterate this position and lift this intolerable pressure,” he told her. “By remaining silent on this matter, you are piling pressure upon the shoulders of those who are under threat of eviction from their own homes.”
He has been backed by the independent councillor, Martin Ford, who resigned from the LibDems after voting against the Trump development. He has put a motion down for the council meeting on 1 October, opposing compulsory purchase.
“Councillors don't want to use compulsory purchase orders against local families because it is such a horrible thing to do,” he said. “It’s contrary to natural justice and basic, human values. And that's why I'm sure most councillors won't vote for it.”
He urged councillors to come out now against the move in order to end the uncertainty hanging over homeowners. “It must be horrible for those living day-in, day-out with the worry of whether or not the council will force them from their homes,” he said.
The council’s political leaders all refused to comment last week, though none denied concerns about compulsory purchase. Roberston insisted she wasn’t going to say anything until the council meeting.
The senior Conservative councillor, Marcus Humphrey, declined to comment. And the SNP leader, Joanna Strathdee, said she was “unable to form any opinion” until she’d had a report from officials.
The local LibDem MSP Mike Rumbles, however, has come out strongly against compulsory purchase, saying it was “morally unacceptable”. This is despite originally being a supporter of the development.
The Trump organisation put on an uncharacteristic brave face on Friday. “I’m still very optimistic that we can resolve this peacefully, amicably and fairly,” said Sarah Malone, Trump’s executive vice-president in Scotland.
“We can’t allow these differences to obscure the bigger picture,” she argued. The development would bring huge economic gains to Scotland and acquiring the four properties on the estate was “critical” to the plan.
Compulsory purchase was “an option of last resort”, Malone added. “We are doing our best to deliver. We continue to negotiate with our neighbours.”
Trump’s plans for two championship golf courses, 950 holiday homes, 500 luxury homes and a 450-bed hotel were narrowly rejected by an Aberdeenshire Council committee in 2007. Council leaders tried to reverse the decision, but then the application was called in by the Scottish government, and approved after a public inquiry.
Trump - Oil/Gas - Libya Worldwide food shortage/Land grabbing
The inclusion of land not under the control of the developer in a Planning Application is at least immoral and probably illegal. In any case, it is against the Lisbon Treaty and a catalyst for human rights abuses similar to those suffered by the people who’s homes were in the path of the gas/oil pipe that runs from Azerbaijan through Turkey. The Turkish people were literally bulldozed off their property The compulsory purchase of land for the Trump organisation is against European law.
The Panning Process as it stands today undermines the democratic process in favour of unelected unaccountable entities who manipulate and deceive for gain. It may be no coincidence that “Approved” major controversial Planning Applications in Scotland are so often in Liberal Democrat controlled Councils.
Mr Trump ,on his own, is in no position to fund a billion pound project .He needs foreign investment and Scottish Taxpayers hard earned money. Of course, he will qualify for several European and Scottish Government Grants. Two grants meant for the most impoverished in our society are being targeted to support developments such as the Trump Development.
When it can be shown that Local Councillors are briefed from a higher authority as to how they are to vote on any major Planning Application and they not only do so against the will of the people but illicit letters of recommendation in exchange for jobs then they can no longer be said to represent the people. Indeed the explicit purpose of Community Partnerships negates the necessity of paying individuals(Councillors) to represent there communities at a local level. Community Partnerships silence the voice of the people. The slogan “ more power to Local Authorities” is no more than manipulation of the masses. We elect and pay Local Councillors who are no more than mouthpieces for organization/quangos who for personal and corporate gain agree terms with Investors that are against the Democratic will of the people.
The criteria necessary to become eligible for a European Grant is being exploited by the Community Partnerships in collusion with Scottish Enterprise. Thus impoverishing the worst off in our society in favour of the few.
Read the bankruptcy files on The St Andrews International Golf Club. It shows clearly the beneficiaries of such developments. They are thl Landowners who it would seem got away without paying tax. Mr Blixseth who gained almost £300million
And the Bank Credit Suisse.
Posted by: Arnold | 05 October 2009 at 05:53 PM
In the end the Council will realise their mistake in supporting this nonsense....but Donalds best pal Alex will step in and do the dirty on behalf of the nation....
I can see the headlines....Nationalists in new highland clearances! Eventually the 7:84 will do a play about it ..."The Putter, the Wig and the dodgy, dodgy deal."
Posted by: Cynic | 16 August 2009 at 10:06 PM
Isn't Mike Rumbles getting a bit politically desperate here?
Yes, compulsory purchase isn't very nice but it happens all over Scotland so that we can improve our economy and infrastructure, why should aberdeenshire be any different?
There's a distinct air of 'head in the sand' coming from the council.
Posted by: Wardog | 16 August 2009 at 08:50 AM