Setback for Donald Trump with push to back wind farm
Donald Trump has threatened to stop spending on golf resort. Picture: Getty
MEMBERS of Aberdeenshire Council’s main planning authority are being urged to back controversial plans for a wind farm off the coast of Aberdeen in a major blow for Donald Trump’s campaign to block the “eyesore” development.
A report to the infrastructure services committee also reveals that Marine Scotland, which will make the final recommendation to Scottish ministers, has received 406 letters of representation supporting the plan and only 14 against it.
The American billionaire warned last week he would not spend “another penny” on his £750 million golf resort at the Menie Estate until it has been confirmed that the proposed 11-turbine European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre is being moved away from the coastline flanking the site of his main championship course.
The development, spearheaded by Swedish electricity company Vattenfall, will stretch from Aberdeen to an area off Blackdog, an estimated mile and a half from the Menie links.
The turbines will be up to 640ft high, and the Trump Organisation claims the “ugly industrial park” will ruin the coastline.
Members of the infrastructure services committee will debate the proposal on Thursday. Stephen Archer, director of infrastructure services, is recommending that members of the influential committee support the application.
Mr Archer states in his report to the committee: “It must be emphasised that due to the size of the turbines proposed, they will be visible from some distance from coastal locations [in eastern Aberdeenshire].
“As there are no offshore turbines in this area at present, the installation of these will create a significant visual effect on these coastal areas of Aberdeenshire, north of Aberdeen.”
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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
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 5 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 29 mph
Wind direction: West
Comments
There are 7 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
norfolkboy14
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 08:51 AMAt least Donald Trump acknowledges that wind farms are having a detrimental effect on the leisure and tourist industries. When will the rest of the country wake up to this fact? Are 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 on http:epetitions.direct.gov.ukpetitions22958 or 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.
futtrit
Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 07:56 PMwhats it got to do with him. he can just go and fly off home
nabodican
Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 06:26 PMThese turbines are for one purpose only - to get the massive subsidies that we will all have to pay for, they are certainly not experimental, they are simply bigger than the present 500 foot turbines we are now seeing onshore. If Donald Trump walks away from the development it will be one of the biggest losses ever to Aberdeen. Any perceived dislike for Trump should not blind the councillors to the quality of the golf project and the folly of the wind project.
torry doug
Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 05:41 PMwhat people seem to forget here is these will be experimental they will never power any houses in aberdeen they will be different designs and shapes.and what of the anchorage in aberdeen bay, they should have been sited off cruden bay or to the south of altens or even better onshore at girdleness tip.
moosef
Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 02:41 PM#1 so they can tramp on trump. Great! He should run off and play elsewhere
Aberdeen lad
Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 08:25 AMI'ts a pity were only getting eleven of the turbines and not the thirty three as originally planned.
Chappit Tatties
Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 07:20 AMWhat has not been explained clearly is why the wind turbines need to be sited so close to Aberdeen. Why not 15 miles further north?
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