A key member of Donald Trump’s golf resort team was involved in an angry confrontation with protesters at the launch of a public exhibition on the planned £1billion development.
The US businessman’s project director, Neil Hobday, told a vocal anti-Trump campaigner to “clear off” during the heated clash. He accused David Milne – who has refused to sell up to make way for the scheme on the Menie Estate – of attempting to “hijack” the exhibition.
“This is not the David Milne show,” Mr Hobday shouted across the room.
“This is here for the public. Pick your own platform, pay for it somewhere else, invite the media and do it there.
“Just clear off, clear off.”
Mr Milne, of Hermit Point, responded by saying he had been invited to the event at the Udny Arms Hotel at Newburgh.
Mr Hobday retorted: “You were not invited here to hold court. You are trying to hijack the whole show.”
It followed a speech deliver-ed by Mr Milne to members of the media, in which he held a magnifying glass to a map of the development, pointing to 144 parking spaces and 136 holiday flats planned for the site of his home.
He had also asked questions of the consultants behind the plans. “By taking this all the way to compulsory purchase for a commercial leisure development, they are effectively declaring war,” Mr Milne said.
“If this goes ahead, no one in any part of the country will be safe in their homes.”
After the altercation, Mr Hobday said he stood by his remarks and accused Mr Milne of “spouting misinformation” about the project.
He said: “I felt it was inappropriate for him to use this platform, at our cost, to do this, so I stopped him.
“I told him that he could go elsewhere on his own time, invite the media and he can put his own story over, but not on our time, not on our platform and not in our public exhibition.”
The Trump team had invited the four families whose homes could be bought by Aberdeenshire Council using compulsory purchase orders unless an agreement is reached over their sale.
Mr Milne said afterwards he was not surprised by Mr Hobday’s remarks.
“It just exemplifies the antics and arrogance of this organisation,” he said.
Sarah Malone, executive vice-president of Trump International Golf Links Scotland, said Mr Milne would be asked to leave if he “exploited” any future events.
She said: “He was making declarations and statements which were false. The manner in which he was speaking to our consultants was entirely inappropriate. He was exploiting the opportunity. He was being aggressive.
“I think passions and emotions were running high. If this happens again, he will be asked to leave.”
The plans for golf courses, a hotel, clubhouse, holiday homes and houses were submitted to the council last month and are expected to be considered later this year.