Donald Trump makes bid for compulsory purchase of land
organisation branded ‘unethical’ by homeowner
Published:
BILLIONAIRE Donald Trump has asked Aberdeenshire Council to make homeowners sell their properties to the tycoon.
A letter sent to Liberal Democrat MSP Nicol Stephen, and handed to the Press and Journal by the Tripping up Trump group, says the council “has been asked by the Trump Organisation to use its powers of compulsory purchase to acquire some areas of land which do not form part of the site for which planning permission exists”.
It comes a day after Mr Trump’s development director, George Sorial, told the P&J the organisation would “rather avoid” the process. He still insists it is a route they will take only as “a last resort”.
Mr Trump wants to add four privately-owned homes and two plots of land to plans for his golf resort at the Menie Estate, Balmedie.
The letter, written by Christine Gore, the council’s director of planning and environmental services, was in reply to a query by the Liberal Democrat which related to issues raised by a Cults resident.
It says: “Planning applications have been submitted for each piece of land and these are currently under consideration.
“The exercise of compulsory purchase powers is, of course, an entirely separate matter, but the council will not consider the above-mentioned request until such time as these applications have been determined.”
Ms Gore also says she is not in a position to speculate on the likely outcome of either of the matters, both of which need to be considered by councillors at the “appropriate time”.
One of the homeowners, David Milne, 44, lives at Hermit Point, a former coastguard lookout building at Menie Links, which has stunning views of the tycoon’s north-east empire.
He said the news was “disappointing but not surprising” and called the organisation’s actions “immoral and unethical”.
Martin Glegg, the group co-ordinator of the Tripping up Trump group, claimed that the comments made by Mr Sorial highlighted the “manipulative nature” of the organisation’s relationship with the north-east public, when read in light of the request.
Martin Ford, who has been accused by Mr Sorial of prejudicing the development by tabling a motion which called on Aberdeenshire Council to rule out using the orders, said it was “difficult” to reconcile Mr Sorial’s public statements with the “behind-the-scenes” actions of the Trump Organisation.
Mr Sorial said there was “nothing new” in the letter and denied any underhand dealings.
He said: “Under Scots law, compulsory purchase exists as an option.
“It is not one that we chose to immediately pursue. It’s viewed as an option of last resort.
“This is something we could have done years ago.
“This is not something we suddenly discovered last month.
“The fact that we have chosen to pursue our goals of acquiring these plots peacefully is testament to our nature.
“We are doing everything in our power and, I think with two exceptions, I am confident that we will have positive and peaceful outcomes.”
