Pensioner fails in bid to halt work on Trump site

Published on Wednesday 6 January 2010 23:37

A PENSIONER has failed in a court bid to stop preparatory work for Donald Trump's £1 billion golf resort in Aberdeenshire.

Mary "Molly" Forbes, a great-grandmother, asked a judge for an interim interdict to halt the planting of marram grass in sand dunes at the Menie Estate, Balmedie.

However, Lady Smith ruled at the Court of Session in Edinburgh that Mrs Forbes had not made out a case that there had been a failure to follow proper procedure when planning permission for the work was granted.

Mrs Forbes, 85, who lives in a mobile home on land owned by her son and daughter-in-law next to their home at Mill of Menie, is trying to scupper the entire Trump plan, and a full hearing in her judicial review case is pending. It is awaiting a date in the court calendar.

Lady Smith heard that Mrs Forbes had not objected to the preparatory work when it was being considered by Aberdeenshire Council.

Roy Martin, QC, for Trump International Golf Links, said the work was not visible from where Mrs Forbes lived.

In her ruling, the judge described Mrs Forbes' case as "a distinctly weak one".

She added: "My view is that she has not made out a case that the proper procedure has not been followed."