'Banana republic' warning if Trump gets go-ahead

Published on Monday 2 June 2008 22:46

SCOTLAND risks having a planning system like that a "banana republic" if Donald Trump's application for a golf resort gets the go-ahead, it was claimed last night.

The warning came from Martin Ford, the councillor deposed as an Aberdeenshire committee chairman for using his casting vote to refuse Trump's application.

He was speaking in the second in a series of ScotsmanDebates. Last night's event, in Aberdeen City Council's Town House headquarters, was chaired by The Scotsman Executive Editor Bill Jamieson.

It included a distinguished panel featuring Mr Ford and Anne McCall, head of planning at the RSPB, north-east journalist Andrew Jones, First Group director of property Jayne MacLennan and rural development expert Professor Ken Thomson.

They were debating whether the application for the Menie Estate, currently in ministers' hands, showed an imbalance in favour of economic development over environmental factors.

Anne McCall warned that approval of the Trump plans would send out the wrong message to "developers who have spent a lot of time and money trying to come up with positive solutions for environmental issues".

Jayne MacLellan said planning was weighted too far in favour of the environment.

For a full report of the meeting, read tomorrow's The Scotsman.

WHAT NEXT?

The Scotsman has cemented its position at the heart of debate by announcing a series of events across Scotland to examine the big topics on a public stage.

Next debate:

ISLANDS

24 June, 7pm

Q Do Scotland's islands have a viable economic future?

Sgoil Lionacleit, Benbecula

For tickets, email [e-mail] or write to David Lee, ScotsmanDebates, The Scotsman, 108 Holyrood Road, Edinburgh, EH8 8AS. Please state how many tickets you want (maximum two per applicant) and for which debate(s).