Trump's latest move is an abuse of the legislation on compulsory purchase

Published on Thursday 13 August 2009 21:14

Just when we thought Donald Trump and his organisation could stoop no lower, the news that he may ask Aberdeenshire Council to secure land from owners at Menie by compulsory purchase (your report, 13 August) should be an affront to all fair-minded people.

The legislation covering the use of compulsory purchase powers states that these should be used only where "the needs of society as a whole override the individual's right of ownership". Using that definition, one could accept the use of compulsory purchase to acquire land for roads projects designed to improve road management and safety, and one might also accept that the enforced acquisition of land for a school development might benefit the future education of Scotland's young people.

Using the same yardstick, the Trump organisation's Menie development can in no way be described as meeting the needs of society as a whole. In fact, Trump's "golf resort" would do quite the opposite, since the gated housing developments, hotel and golf facilities will be within the reach of only the select few who could to afford to pay. Or will Mr Trump be providing a proportion of socially rented houses within his overall mix?

It will be nothing short of scandalous if Aberdeenshire councillors are seen to be complicit in Trump's bullying tactics to acquire land from owners who do not wish to sell, at least not for the derisory values which appear to have been proposed. If Mr Trump gets his way we will be in great danger of repeating the much-publicised situation in Spain, where developers routinely persuade local councils to force residents from legally built homes to make way for supermarkets and the like. Can that possibly be justified?

If the properties owned by David Milne and others are vital to the overall Menie development, something which the Trump organisation would have known from the outset, then let Mr Trump, who boasts constantly about his vast wealth, make an offer that recognises this. And if the parties involved still don't wish to sell their homes, that should be the end of it.

BILL GOODALL

Baird Terrace

Edinburgh

Donald Trump's latest application for full planning permission for groundworks for the golf course on the Menie dunes seems to be jumping the gun somewhat.

The statement accompanying this planning application states that "On 16 December 2008, the Scottish ministers granted outline planning permission for the development of a golf course and resort development on land at Menie House, Balmedie, Aberdeenshire. The outline permission was subject to 46 conditions, one of which required the preparation and approval of a masterplan for the whole resort development before commencement of any works."

Trump International Golf Links Scotland appointed architect Gareth Hoskins to prepare a masterplan for the resort development. Work on the masterplan is in progress, together with work to purify the remaining conditions of the outline permission. All of this work is scheduled for completion early in 2010.

Even if planning permission is given for this preliminary work, none of the preparatory work on the golf course should be allowed until the masterplan has been received and approved by Aberdeenshire Council, regardless of the timing of the planting season.

If the work goes ahead it will make a nonsense of the Scottish ministers' list of conditions, and be a serious taste of what is to come.

SUE EDWARDS (MRS)

Chapel of Garioch

Inverurie, Aberdeenshire