Menie refusenik and Donald Trump aide clash as golf clubhouse approved
Councillors approved plans for Donald Trumps golf clubhouse. Picture: Getty
ONE of Donald Trump’s senior aides has branded a prominent independent councillor a “disgrace” after she launched a vitriolic attack on the controversial design for the tycoon’s new clubhouse at his luxury golf resort.
George Sorial, the Trump Organisation’s managing director of international development, told Councillor Debra Storr, a leading opponent of the Trump development, she would be out of a job after the council elections in May as he left a meeting of the planning authority where councillors approved plans for the Gothic-inspired building by eight votes to two.
Visibly shaken, Ms Storr declined the offer of a five-minute recess by the chairman of the Formartine area committee, claiming she was “used to abuse from the Trump Organisation”.
During a heated debate on the planning application, Ms Storr described the design for the 19th hole at the Menie championship links as “laughable”.
She said: “It should have blended into the land rather than sitting there looking like a Victorian lunatic asylum.”
Ms Storr, who had called for the plans for the new clubhouse to be rejected, claimed the design was totally inappropriate for the site and a “Victorian pastiche”.
She claimed: “There was an opportunity here to produce a spectacular design. We could have had a fantastic, modern, new clubhouse. I pity the architect who has been forced into such a design by a client I don’t think has taste.”
But Councillor Anne Robertson, the leader of the council, said she found Ms Storr’s criticisms of the design “objectionable”. She said: “We need to be very clear here: we have a planning application in front of us today and we should deal with the application and stop targeting individuals in this manner. I find it objectionable and actually out of order.”
After the meeting ended in favour of the application, Mr Sorial confronted Ms Storr in the council chamber and told her: “You are a disgrace. You are going to be looking for another job in May.”
Later he said: “She [Ms Storr] has lost her ability to be objective, and that has been well known for quite some time. She should really do the dignified thing and just resign.
“What I said to her is that she is a disgrace and she insults the good taxpayers that elected her. And there is no doubt in anyone’s mind that she’ll be looking for a new job in May.”
He said the approval of the clubhouse was “very significant” in terms of the overall scheme.
“This is really the final component that we have been looking for, for us to build what we believe will be the greatest golf course in the world. So it’s something we’re thrilled about,” Mr Sorial said.
But he warned that the future of the planned hotel development was still at risk and had been placed on hold because of proposals for an 11-turbine offshore wind farm off the coastline.
He said: “We can assure you that if that proposal goes forward, there will be no hotel. No sane developer would build a hotel that overlooks an industrial park.”
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Comments
There are 37 comments to this article
Page 1 of 3
Alex.
Friday, January 20, 2012 at 06:14 PMHave you seen a picture of it? It is hideous and that is not exaggerating. Designed by people brought up by Disneyland with an absolute lack of good taste. Feel sorry for the architects who had to carry out the customers wishes. Whether Storr is an incomer or not she is entitled to state her case. In this case I consider she is correct.
vistaero
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 08:52 PMTrump is going to throw his toys out of his pram again if the Wind Turbines gets the go ahead, and he has said he will abandon the development if the Turbines are approved beside his development. Get the turbines approved, and that will get rid of this American Lunatic for good. Which sane businessman spends money on a development, and if he does not get his own way in the end, is going to abandon it, and loose all the money he has invested in it. HE OBVIOULDY LIKES HAVING TANTRUMS, AND THROWYING HIS TOYS OUT OF HIS PRAM, WE ALL KNEW HIE WAS JUST A BIG BABY.
BigPete
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 05:57 PMComment removed by moderator
wxalexander
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 10:26 PMThe abject council has already realised that Trump money could prevent the lady from being re-elected. This is standard policy by US real estate developers to get their own way plus perhaps a donation to those who support them. If Global Warming continues at current rates, then the future map of the area indicates that the develpoment will be under about 20 ft of sea water just like the Old Course. I presume the Trump organisation will not mention this small point to the eager buyers. Of course he could build a dyke around the develpoment- not a chance- spoil the view. The same prediction is probably why he is not building a hotel- unless of course people develop a desire to have under water rooms! Better have some small print in your purchase offer that he builds a dyke around the house you wish to purchase. As for Global warming, the curve slope on CO2 emissions is already past the point of no return and is now an autocatalytic reaction which cannot be stopped even if emissions went to zero from burning fossil fuels. The heating up of the seas and the artic tundra in Canada and the USSR is emitting more CO2 than is produced burning fossil fuels!!!!! and will continue to grow as a source of CO2. We are on our way
George Coutts
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 07:30 PMThe Ford guy has been sacked again from Aberdeenshire Council,,,,,wow dangerous to be a Scottish Condem cos he was sure CON DEMNED. 2 times bye the same Employer? Lifes a bi ch for the Missguided.
George Coutts
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 07:24 PMNice one George.
George Coutts
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 07:17 PMDebra Storr what stone did she crawl out from under, christ not another incomer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Finnzz
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 05:37 PMHilarious mock outrage by those not in full command of the facts or their faculties. Keep it up folks, the majority who support this development think yer just a hoot...
aberdingdong
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 05:06 PMThe majority of the people visiting this place probably won't even leave the grounds, and zilch money will go back into the economy. It's a one stop shop, with the occasional safari to see the funny little Scotch folk in the villages. The whole corrupt stinking mess is disgusting.
torry doug
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 04:37 PMno,s 20 ,21 no just stating facts have nothing against the lady but thanks for the insult anyway.as stated in another post there are plenty things wrong with the trump course and development that can be improved on for the future planning development of the area.as our local authorities start dumping all there leisure facilities on to trusts with inadequate funding there will be poor sport facilities up this way soon.
aberdingdong
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 03:56 PMA 1950s biscuit factory. That's what it looks like
aberdingdong
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 03:54 PMi find that looking at his greasy little face is offensive. Can I please have his picture banned from all media? Thanks
Auld Meerkat
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 03:23 PMIf the off shore wind farm project is refused on the grounds that Mr.Trump and co.deem it to be unsightly, then the floodgates of legal appeals will be open wide. It would surely mean that any householder in Scotland who overlooks a windfarm can immediately get on the phone to Messrs.Sue,Grabbitt and Run, to arrange a compension claim!
Charlie McFarley
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 02:00 PMTrump and Sorial are deeply unpleasant examples of the human race. Now they are blackmailing the government over the proposed wind turbines - who do these gangsters think they are? Give this purveyor of tacky tat the bum's rush he deserves.
aberdingdong
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 01:31 PMThis golf course is an obscenity. All this drivel about 'local people' and 'investment into the area'. What a load of tripe! The first thing Trump did was contract the groundworks to an Irish contractor, which was an immediate about face (lie) on boosting the local economy. I can't understand why your 'manwoman in the street' support this. The only chance they'll get to go there is if they get a job cleaning the hotel rooms or serving in the restaurant. To this blinkered crowd I would say that Trump has made complete mugs out of you. Do you think he gives 2 sh**s about the local people or economy. Wake up you chumps.....hah...Trumps Chumps ;-)
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