Donald Trump urges independent Scotland to defend coast
Donald Trump: Claims wind farm will ruin coastline. Picture: AFP
DONALD Trump has said an independent Scotland would need to protect its coastline after he failed to win support for his opposition to an “eyesore” offshore wind farm from a local planning authority.
The US billionaire claims plans for the wind farm have forced him to put the development of a £750 million golf resort on hold. He has warned he will not spend “another penny” on his resort at Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire unless plans for the 11-turbine European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC) in Aberdeen Bay are blocked by the Scottish Government.
But yesterday Aberdeenshire council’s infrastructure services committee agreed to offer “broad support” to the renewable energy development. Its response will be sent to Marine Scotland, which will make the final recommendation on the wind farm to Scottish ministers.
In a statement Mr Trump said: “If Scotland is going to be independent, it needs to protect its greatest national treasure, the coastline. Frankly, I don’t understand how they [councillors] are even considering it.”
Councillors acknowledged the role the wind farm could play in diversifying the area’s economy away from oil and gas but questioning whether or not the site was appropriate.
Earlier John Cox, independent councillor for Banff, argued that there was no economic justification for the wind farm which he said could pose a danger to shipping in the area. He said: “In my view this site is not appropriate.”
Albert Howie, independent councillor for Central Buchan, also declared the wind farm was being sited in the wrong place and claimed much of the opposition to the scheme had come from “anti-Trump people.”
But Martin Kitt-Hayes, the Liberal Democrat councillor for Inverurie, told the meeting: “To me this is an opportunity we should be grasping with both hands. The idea that somebody teeing off could be put off by having a wind farm out at sea I find quite astonishing.”
Sarah Malone, executive vice-president of Trump International Golf Links Scotland, said she was not dismayed by the committee’s stance. She said: “They [councillors] are not supporting it – they are not really making comment on whether they support or are rejecting the application. That will be a decision for Marine Scotland.
“I’m not disappointed. We know there is widespread support for our position from the tourism industry.”
But David Rodger, a spokesman for the EOWDC project, welcomed the outcome of the meeting. He said: “The committee has decided to go with the views from the two local committees and both of those committees gave a vote of support for our project. We are clearly delighted.
“We believe the proposal has wide public and business support and we have made a strong case for the economic and environmental benefits. We look forward to hearing a decision on our planning application from Marine Scotland later this year.”
EOWDC is a £150 million venture by Swedish firm Vattenfall, Technip and Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group. It will stretch from Aberdeen to an area off Blackdog, a mile and a half from Menie. Turbines will be up to 640ft high. The Trump Organisation claims the “ugly industrial park” will ruin the coastline.
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Weather for Edinburgh
Thursday 23 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 7 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 26 mph
Wind direction: South west
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Sunny spells
Temperature: 5 C to 10 C
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Comments
There are 24 comments to this article
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Petepunk73
Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 12:39 PMDonald Trump is a bully, a blustering windbag who believes his personal wealth entitles him to destroy anything that stands in his way. Windmills are elegant and beautiful. Just saying.
jerrymanders
Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 06:22 PMWhat a cheek Trump has - he is bad news at best but when he doesn't get his way look out for the litigation, against him! Is he using this situation to get out of this white elephant development?
Hector the Lessor
Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 08:02 AMI have to agree with Mr Trump. I have never understood the idea of building wind turbines in the sea, when the logical position would be under the sea in areas of strong tidal surge. I can only assume that it is because the seabed there though not in an area of high winds, is dirt cheap. I reckon the idea of a golf course is a great idea as long as the locals and kids can play the course at a cheap price. Restricted times of course, but not before dawn or after dusk. As far as making money for the economy, just about guaranteed when they are building it, after it is built, I cannot imagine too many locals will be employed. It is not the Royal and Ancient after all.
An Tirisdeach
Friday, January 27, 2012 at 03:43 PMhttp:www.no-tiree-array.org.uk While not wishing to get embroiled in the windfarm procons...etc. I draw your attention to the above link...The west coast of Scotland has to be one of the most beautiful places on the planet (subjective)...Scottish Power Renewables are trying to push through a 300 + 1.6Gw power station 5 km off our shore line...surrounding Stevensons Skerryvore Light house...do you really think that if the government can even contemplate the Argyll aka Tiree array in the Inner Hebrides where it will be visible from Mull, Barra, Skye and my own home Isle...that they give two hoots about anywhere else. We have a growing tourist industry, host a world class windsurfing even...have a vibrant community of 800 or so folk....yet the Government is also looking at the possibility of putting 300 itinerant workers on the isle. Though I support the SNP in many other ways...I am agast at their blinkered and obsesive addiction to the rape of our national heritage....
number withheld
Friday, January 27, 2012 at 03:37 PMaberdeen lad - i think it was 'part' of the sssi which was altereddestroyed... i also think that it was a small percentage of the ssi as well which was incluced in the site boundary (though i could be wrong)
norfolkboy14
Friday, January 27, 2012 at 01:49 PMAre you disillusioned by rising electricity prices, over dependence on the "green" dream [especially uneconomical and inefficient wind farms] and the destruction of our countryside then please register your objection to the Government by googling "petition 22958" and following the link. Please pass this message on to Councillors, members of your community and anyone else you know to persuade them to sign up too. If you are really concerned about wind turbines please write a letter promoting this petition to the Editors of your local newspapers.
Za naszą wolność i waszą
Friday, January 27, 2012 at 01:27 PMFace like a weel skelpit bahookie. Why don't they paint the vanes of the turbines in pretty colours , and tie ribbons ontae them tae? they micht look richt bonny then
Biscuit McVittie
Friday, January 27, 2012 at 01:19 PMI’m sure Alex will let him have his way. In fact there’s a rumour that DT will be elevated to a Lairdship following independence so he can continue the noble tradition started by the Duke of Sutherland. Arise Laird o’ Menie.
Ancient Wisdom
Friday, January 27, 2012 at 12:45 PMTrump wants to protect his investment against coastal erosion. Off shore windfarms may spoil the view and are a waste of money, but I doubt this is his main concern.
Aberdeen lad
Friday, January 27, 2012 at 10:41 AMDonald Trump destroyed a unique dynamic dune system considered rare in Europe and he has the cheek to say that offshore windfarms will destroy Scotlands coastline. Why has he never complained before about any other offshore windfarm?
Buford Van Stomm
Friday, January 27, 2012 at 10:35 AMI like the fact that Trump has camouflaged his face to blend in with the background of the photo....like Where's Wally...except less fun.
Buford Van Stomm
Friday, January 27, 2012 at 10:16 AM11 Broon Bairn No basket case as in a drooling parrot who simply repeats pithy phrases he hears elsewhere.
Buford Van Stomm
Friday, January 27, 2012 at 10:15 AMI'm not sure we should be taking advice on the addition of man made structures placed on naturally occurring areas of open space from a man with a barnet like that. If he thinks his attempt at shrouding his napper with a combover from hell is aesthetically pleasing then we can expect our coastline covered in a really unconvincing man made turf.
Broon Bairn
Friday, January 27, 2012 at 10:02 AM9. Do you mean a "basket-case" like the UK government, which has a debt of £1 trillion?
Velv
Friday, January 27, 2012 at 09:32 AMInstead of a proliferation of inefficient subsidised wind farms we need to be investing in other renewable energy sources. Bring back the wave duck and let's start exploiting more hydro sources - rivers always flow, even when the wind stops
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