Trump objector: ‘Protected land not a barrier to success’

Golf proposal in the spotlight

By David Ewen chief reporter

Published:

EVIDENCE: Paul Rooney admitted that some of the best courses, like Birkdale, were on SSSIs.

AN OBJECTOR to Donald Trump’s £1 billion golf resort today admitted that building on protected land was not a barrier to success.

Paul Rooney acknowledged to a public inquiry in Aberdeen that some of the country’s best courses were on Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

The courses included Open venues Royal Liverpool, Royal St George’s and Royal Birkdale, where this year’s event will take place.

Mr Trump’s QC Lord Colin Boyd put it to him that “over 100 English golf courses exist on SSSIs, including some of the more well-known and historic courses”.

He said: “Does that demonstrate that a SSSI designation is not in itself a barrier to having a golf course?” Mr Rooney, a witness for Scottish Natural Heritage, replied “indeed” but added that the venues “significantly” pre-dated the SSSI designation.

Lord Boyd asked: “It doesn’t preclude the holding of a major championship?”

Mr Rooney replied: “On those sites it does not as long as you have responsible planning between them, yes. They’re not incompatible.”

The SNH witness admitted there was “a significant amount of common ground between the objectives of nature conservationists and golf” and that courses could “contribute a diversity of habitat”.

The Balmedie proposal for two golf courses, a hotel, 950 holiday homes and 500 houses is estimated to create more than 1,000 jobs and generate £50m for the economy every year.

Objectors are concerned about plans to stabilise the sand dunes for the course.

Mr Rooney, of Liverpool Hope University, warned that the impact of golf course construction on the dunes would be “both considerable and extensive” and that the scientific interest would be “significantly compromised”.

He said: “This stabilisation is contrary to the SSSI citation and will effectively cause the loss of many of the dynamic features of the site, which is the basis of its natural heritage interest.

“It is the interaction of changing wind and water conditions resulting in moving sand that keeps the naturally dynamic dune system at Menie Links pulsing and alive.”

The Trump Organization is planning to relocate dune material next to the course.

But Mr Rooney said: “The development proposal does not propose credible measures to mitigate for the severe adverse impacts on the dynamic dune processes.”

The Trump Organization has argued only a tenth of the SSSI would be affected by the golf plan and that there is no reason why it should not remain an SSSI.

It has hit out at SNH for threatening not to work together to protect the environment if the plan was approved.

Lord Boyd questioned Mr Rooney’s expertise on the Aberdeenshire coast.

Mr Rooney admitted that his first visit to Menie Estate took place in May this year, and that he had spent a day at the site.

Lord Boyd said: “You’ve conducted no survey work on your own on north Menie?”

Mr Rooney said: “That was not in my brief.”

Lord Boyd suggested the witness was not in a position to challenge proposed conservation measures.

A witness for the Scottish Wildlife Trust told the inquiry that “only 20%” of golf courses on SSSIs were in a favourable condition.

Policy manager Jonathan Hughes also warned that it was “extremely unlikely” rare plant species would survive being moved.

He said the site would end up with “a habitat mush in the wrong location”.

Finance Minister John Swinney will make the final decision on the proposal.

dewen@ajl.co.uk