Trump warned that nature's tide could turn against golf resort

Published on Saturday 19 January 2008 19:13

CLIMATE change rather than uncooperative councillors could ultimately turn out to be Donald Trump's greatest adversary. If built, the tycoon's controversial Aberdeenshire golf course could be washed away by the sea, according to a government-funded environmental group.

An SNH insider confirmed that the agency had created a strongly worded report, and said: "We are keeping our powder dry at the moment, but when this report is made public people will sit up and take notice. It is in (Trump's] own long-term economic interests to listen to the warnings now. Is it wise to build on low-lying vulnerable land in the face of climate change? It seems to me to be very clear that the answer is no.

"In the future parts of the course could well crumble into the sea because of erosion and rising sea levels."

Dr Alan Brampton, who has advised golf clubs across the UK on the dangers of coastal erosion, is in no doubt that Trump's proposals face a very real environmental threat.

"There is plenty of land nearby which is available and is further away from the coast. I would strongly advise Donald Trump to go back 50 metres before he creates anything of value. Anyone who chooses to build directly on the coast is taking a big risk."

Brampton, the technical director of independent consultancy firm HR Wallingford, said coastal golf clubs across Scotland were already facing considerable problems.

"The dunes at the Royal Aberdeen golf course are already receding quite rapidly and there also problems with erosion at Montrose just down the coast. Nearly all Scotland's links courses are experiencing problems with erosion and I don't see why Trump's course would be any different."

The Scottish Golf Environment Group has already warned that Scottish links courses face losing at least a third of their holes by 2050 because of erosion. It warned clubs to draw up protective strategies stating: "Apathy is not an option. It is vital to identify the parts of your course that are vulnerable. Failure to do so will result in course deterioration."

Trump International has always insisted that its Scottish plans were created with environmental implications in mind. Trump International's project director, Neil Hobday, strongly rejected claims that the proposed course would be prone to erosion.

He said: "Some of Britain's top coastal management experts have provided us with substantial information on both future tidal and flood possibilities. They have concluded that the threat to the site is virtually zero over the next couple of hundred years."

The plans, which will be ruled on by Scottish ministers in the near future, include two championship golf courses, a five-storey hotel and 950 holiday homes on coastline north of Aberdeen.

Supporters claim it will generate hundreds of jobs and bring 50m of investment into the north east.