‘Fog could be a problem for Trump course’

Councillor says Trump has no chance of hosting Open

By David Ewen and Alan Majury

Published:

A COUNCILLOR’S attention was today drawn to the support for Donald Trump’s £1 billion Balmedie golf resort – by the chairman of a public inquiry.

Paul Johnston had described taking “two days” to read through objections to the scheme.

He said: “It was quite a physical job to do.”

But inquiry chairman James McCulloch then pointed out that there were “letters in support” too.

Mr Johnston replied: “I did read all the letters in support but that was somewhat easier because they were all virtually the same.”

The councillor presented a list of planning conditions – including the height of buildings – that he thought should be attached to any approval.

He told the inquiry: “The imposition of planning conditions at the outline stage, where issues of principle might be debated, is to be preferred to the use of planning agreements.”

Mr Trump’s plan – two golf courses, a hotel, 950 holiday homes and 500 houses – was recommended for approval by Aberdeenshire Council planners.

It is claimed that the scheme would create more than 1,000 permanent jobs and generate £50 million a year for the economy.

Objectors say the wider benefits do not justify departing from planning policy, which presumes against development in that area.

Concerns centre on the stabilising of the shifting sand dunes that make up a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

The Trump Organization has stressed that the SSSI – a 10th of which it claims will be affected – is needed to make the course a world-beater.

But Mr Johnston, who twice voted against the scheme, suggested the plan should only get the go-ahead if Mr Trump agreed to scrap its key feature.

He said: “Development should not be allowed on an SSSI site.”

The councillor suggested that due to the “risky” financial nature of the development, Mr Trump should be tied to it.

He said: “Scottish Ministers should use their powers to impose the condition that the permission is personal to Mr Trump and Trump International.”

Mr Johnston suggested that the “unusual circumstances” warranted “a slightly unusual approach”.

Referring to the application, he added that he hoped he would never have “another one like this” to deal with.

The councillor also said the resort should have its own fire station.

When asked why, he made a joky allusion to the BBC children’s TV show Trumpton.

He said: “In all my life growing up I always understood that Trumpton had a fire station.”

A bemused inquiry reporter questioned whether Mr Trump’s New York development director George Sorial would understand the reference, and Mr Johnston said it was “available” on American television.

Mr Johnston is one of four Aberdeenshire councillors appearing at the inquiry in opposition to the scheme.

His colleague Alastair Ross warned that Donald Trump’s plan to host major golf events could be scuppered – by the haar.

Mr Ross said: “The site is frequently subject to extended periods of advection fog in summer.

“This makes it a risky locus for major competitive events.”

Mr Ross also questioned the economic viability of the development.

He said: “I do not think the development will be as impressive as the applicant claims.

“There would undoubtedly be financial benefits but not on the scale that the applicant claims.”

Today George Sorial said the councillors had failed to produce an “economic vision” for the future.

He said: “Their comments and questions simply demonstrate a lack of understanding of large real estate development.”

dewen@ajl.co.uk