Legal threat to council for being 'in bed with Trump' over resort

Published on Monday 26 October 2009 21:09

ABERDEENSHIRE Council is facing court action over claims that the authority is giving "favourable treatment" to Donald Trump in dealing with the tycoon's controversial plans for his £1 billion golf resort.

Members of the council's Formartine area committee are due to meet in Ellon today to rule on a planning application from the Trump Organisation to begin the extensive planting of marram grass to help stabilise the dunes which will form the backdrop for the main championship golf course at the Menie estate site.

Planning officials are recommending that the "major" application be given the go-ahead.

But opponents of the scheme are claiming that, under the new rules for dealing with planning applications, which came into force on 3 August, the council should have referred the Trump application to a meeting of the full council instead of the local area committee – following a pre-determination consultation hearing involving the local community.

Yesterday lawyers acting on behalf of the Tripping Up Trump campaign and David Milne, one of the four homeowners facing the threat of compulsory purchase at the development site, sent a letter to the council, demanding that the application be removed the committee's agenda.

And the lawyers warn that, should the council refuse to defer the committee's decision, they will be seeking an immediate judicial review or interdict against the council.

Martin Glegg, the co-ordinator of Tripping Up Trump, claimed the council's decision to refer the Trump application to a meeting of a local area committee was evidence of Aberdeenshire Council being "in bed with Trump" and "breaking rules" to help the Trump Organisation.

But a spokesman for Aberdeenshire Council refuted the allegations.

He said: "It is the professional judgment of officers that the application falls within the Formartine area committee's delegated authority in relation to the determination of planning applications."