Tycoon to fund Trump golf resort protest
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A WEALTHY environmentalist is bankrolling a new protest group opposed to Donald Trump’s Aberdeenshire golf resort.
The anonymous “well-known” millionaire backer has agreed to fund Tripping Up Trump, which already has around 60 members and is appealing for more.
It will hold a public meeting on Monday to discuss strategies to try to scupper the American tycoon’s plan to build on Menie’s Site of Special Scientific Interest dunes.
Group co-ordinator Martin Glegg, 27, who is originally from Banchory but now lives in Glasgow, said the movement’s members are a mix of ages from different backgrounds, who aim to stand up for nearby residents and the environment.
He added: “They are challenging Mr Trump on the economics, environmental issues and the legality of the development and will actively do all they can to stop the plans from happening.
“We are growing and growing and are out to trip up Mr Trump.”
Group member Danny Heptinstall, 22, of Dunbar Street, Aberdeen, said: “It will be a self-contained resort. The only people who are going to make any money from it are the taxi drivers who ferry people from the airport to the development. There are better ways to spend £1billion which will benefit the people of Aberdeenshire. The oil will run out.
“We need engineers to stay and work on renewable technologies. The £1billion would be better spent on that.
“The sand dunes at Menie are more endangered than the Amazon,” added Mr Heptinstall.
Last night Mr Trump’s right-hand man George Sorial dismissed the group as an “act of desperation”.
“It’s obviously nothing we take seriously. The statutory challenge period to the outline approval expired months ago.
“The economic data presented by three separate financial groups at the inquiry was unchallenged. And we still enjoy the broad support from the people of Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen and Scotland.
“We have Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Environment Protection Agency and many other environmental groups supporting and working with us on this project.
“We are the true supporters of the environmentalists,” added Mr Sorial.
Tripping Up Trump will hold a public meeting on Monday at 6pm in the Belmont Cinema cafe, Aberdeen. For more information on the group, e-mail trippinguptrump@googlemail.com
Readers' Comments
i have been living in the US for a while now but am from the North East and have been following this story closely. I didn't realise we had so many loonies over there, glad I am here. Fair play to Mr Trump for his perseverance dealing with idiots like this. He's the one spending the money as far as i am aware so this argument that his money would be better spent on renewable technologies is a joke. Is it April 1st?
David Watt
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There are number of points in the above story that should be corrected. First the financial arguements presented by the Trump organisation have been challenged many times incvluding at the PLI and no satisfactory answer was forthcoming. The Environmantal case for the housing development (as that is what it is) is non existant and has been shown to be seriously flawed as it stands. As far as there being wide spread support for the development that is not true the silent majority of teh north east populace now see this development as an attempt to rip money out of teh North east for personal profit with no return to teh country as well as damaging the long term viability of teh area as a future habitable are. As for teh comments allegedly posted by David Watt above I would suggest he do his own research, if he does he will find that Trump does not spend Trumps money it all and always hasd been Other People Money. So the Trump Organisation need to show a mature attitude rather than the childish schaool yard bull methods they have used to date and do as tehy said at the begining - accept the local don't want it and go home.
David Milne
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Apologies for typos
David Milne
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Mr Milne, I did say as far as I am aware, I have been known to be wrong in the past. There's no getting away from the fact the man is a businessman and the ultimate goal is to make money, and he must see a sizeable pot of gold at the bottom of the rainbow but surely there will be economic benefits for others in the area? I find it hard to believe there will be no return for the area. Imagine if it were to become a British Open venue? Is he not using local labour on the project? Do these outweigh the environmental issues? I'm not a tree hugger so i say yes but understand those who disagree, the cynic in me says that this is not really about the environment.
David Watt
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I say we gie the boy a chance, let him build his golf course, houses and fittever else and if it doesn't work out we dig up the course, knock down the houses, rebuild the sand dunes, bring back the frogs and the ducks and abdy's happy right?
David Watt
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I say we gie the boy a chance, let him build his golf course, houses and fittever else and if it doesn't work out we dig up the course, knock down the houses, rebuild the sand dunes, bring back the frogs and the ducks and abdy's happy right?
David Watt
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In answer to Mr Milne: A word of caution... this Development has the backing of two most powerful bodies: Aberdeen Council and the Scottish parliament. Even a slight restriction on the Development expansion plans could mean all the money to fund the entire development gets yanked and invested elsewhere, as has previously been threatened. So tread carefully is my advice to you. Colossal influence is at stake in pushing thru' this 'Aviemore-by-the-dunes' development. Your real job I suggest is to prove Aberdeen is economically,financially and enviromentally better off without it. And thats a tall order with a country wide Recession. Thats quite apart from the very worrying land-grab accusations circulating in the letters page of the P &J which may or may not be true. I wish you all the best but the battle is 95 pc lost. Will the huge silent Aberdonian majority speak out to support you now so late in the game? I hope so, time is so short. In answer to Mr watt: Are you currently in a bar, perchance?
john law
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Mr. Watt, the dunes in question are a sensitive dynamic dune system described as the most undisturbed in the UK, so I'm not sure how much they'll like being dug up. Donald Trump is the only person who will benefit from this construction. He is kindly providing a workers hostel, and I find it hard to believe that any Aberdonians would move to live in a hostel in Trump estate. There is very little local economic benefit from an expensive, elite-ist golf course/housing comlex and Trump will be laughing all the way to the bank.
George Matthews
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George Sorial is quite wrong that this development has the 'broad support of the people of Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Scotland' - rather, he has the support of all the businesses who mistakenly expect to make megabucks out of this resort, but has anyone thought why Trump is willing to put his money into the scheme? HE will be making the money - out of the condominiums (condominia?), houses, membership fees, etc., and might he not even import his own Trump Steaks into Scotland to feed his guests? He is not stupid, this could be a great new way to make more money. That is, if the American golfers want to come all this way to play on an American course, in fog and mist, with sand blowing in on cold winds from the south, covering greens and fairways. Donald Trump, you may think you are a formidable opponent but you cannot stand up against Nature. To think you can is pure arrogance.
Sue Edwards
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Since when were SNH in support of the destruction of an SSSI? George Sorial seems to live in a fantasy world ... but hey, I guess he 'just wants to make something great' (yawn) Incidentally, where are the affordable houses going to be situated it's not clear in the Local Plan and does the housing at balmedie include Trump's development or not?
dianne sutherland
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Mr Law, as I said in my first message I live in the US and it's a bit early to be on the swally. I guess that was an attempt at humour, try again.
David Watt
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there is of course a simple answer: Avoid any sensitive SSSI areas completely and just build a cracking course Aberdeen could, like G Sorial, still call 'the best' in the UK. But choose a different location from the dunes which is 100 per cent agreeable to the enviromental lobby, and also agreeable to the 'we are about to lose our homes' lobby. Its got to be possible... Grampian is full of stunning locations after all. Who knows, that way Mr Watts crazy bar side dream of hosting the British Open in Aberdeenshire might not be so crazy after all. By the way,when did you last stand on the tee and say: 'My this is a lovely golf course, but what it really needs to make it jest perfect is twa or three hundred luxury homes '! Golf course YES ( within reason and full agreement) , Houses No!
john law
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I wonder David Twatt why you claim to be so interested in the welfare of the North East when you had left it for the USA, perhaps you find the heroin cheaper?
Sean Ashley
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Here's a reference to a court deposition and statements under oath worth sharing. It sheds an interesting light on Donald Trump's financial expertise: So today, depositions that Trump gave in the case have been released, where under oath Trump had to testify about how, exactly, he believes he's worth billions when things like math show he's probably not. It turns out it's because he sees "worth" and "ownership" to be mostly mental labels that he can use however he'd like. So his 30 percent stake in building project is actually closer to 50 percent in his mind, because he's being paid to manage the site, for instance. This also works really nicely with figuring out profits: In the deposition, Mr. Trump is asked about the Bedminster, N.J. golf course, which financial statements showed had a net loss of $4.6 million in 2005. Has he ever done a financial analysis of his investment there? "Yes, I've done mental projections," he said, figuring he'd eventually make $120 million. He never put them down on paper. "You don't really have to," he said. Mr. Ceresney, asks: "Have you discounted in your mind for the risk that you won't sell [memberships] at the prices you are anticipating?" "I think I will, but it's possible I won't. But I think I will," Mr. Trump said.
Harald Tobermann
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I fully support Michael Forbes'campaign and earnestly trust that he will be successful in the face of this attempt by a greedy and self-serving American tycoon to destroy for ever a very precious part of our heritage. Derek Kelsey.
DEREK KELSEY
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