Bird colonies threatened by golf course and wind farm

Published on Wednesday 24 May 2006 02:37

BIRD colonies of international importance are facing a twin threat from controversial plans by American billionaire Donald Trump for a £300 million golf resort and an offshore wind farm on the Aberdeenshire coast, it was claimed yesterday.

The Trump Organisation is expected to lodge plans with Aberdeenshire Council before the end of the month, outlining proposals to build a golf course on a stretch of environmentally sensitive links land on the Menie Estate, near Balmedie.

And today, the Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group (AREG) will give details of its new proposals for 100 million offshore wind farm, stretching from the Bridge of Don to Blackdog. The amended plan, which comes on the opening day of the All Energy Exhibition and Conference in Aberdeen, will cut the number of proposed turbines from 33 to 23, each up to 490ft high.

But last night RSPB Scotland warned that the wildlife-rich coast of Aberdeenshire could be seriously damaged and internationally vital bird populations decimated as a result of the two large-scale developments.

Dr Martin Auld, the RSPB's director for the east of Scotland, appealed to both developers to consider the wildlife value of the area before progressing their plans.

And he said "There is a lot at stake. We have voiced our concerns about the potential impacts of a wind farm in Aberdeen Bay to the developers and are waiting to see what they are now proposing. The environmental impacts need to be looked at very carefully."

James Reynolds, a spokesman for the conservation organisation, said: "[These developments"] could seriously damage the wildlife treasures of the area."

He explained: "The cold, shallow seas off the Aberdeenshire coast play host to hundreds of thousands of seabirds, ducks and divers - most notably guillemots, kittiwakes, eiders and nationally important numbers of red-throated divers.

"The complete coastal strip is like a motorway of birds, streaming from nesting areas to offshore feeding grounds, and like a service station for international travellers. In the sea, pods of bottle-nosed and white-beaked dolphins follow the shoals.

Mr Reynolds added: "These Scottish natural treasures deserve to be safeguarded."

Fearing the proposals would spoil his own development plans, Mr Trump has also raised concerns about the prospect of a wind farm in the area.

A spokeswoman for the Trump Organisation said: "The Trump Organisation and its environmental consultants are already in talks with Scottish Natural Heritage and have been for some time. These discussions will continue throughout the course of the development."

Iain Todd, a spokesman for AREG, said that the changes to the layout of the wind farm had been driven by the environmental issues surrounding the Ythan Estuary and by operational issues faced by local helicopter operators.