An opponent of Donald Trump’s north-east golf resort is to drop her legal battle for a review of the planning decisions which led to the development being given the go-ahead.
Molly Forbes believes Aberdeenshire Council did not follow proper procedures when it backed applications for the £750million scheme at the Menie Estate, near Balmedie, by Trump International Golf Links.
The 85-year-old, who lives in a mobile home at Paradise, Mill of Menie, had been fighting for a judicial review of the decisions made by the council, but last night it was revealed the case is to be abandoned.
A court official said a motion to drop the proceedings was expected to be lodged today, but it is understood it may not actually call at the Court of Session until next Tuesday.
A court spokeswoman said: “There’s a motion being put forward to discharge the hearing and dismiss the petition.”
Mrs Forbes claimed last night she knew nothing about the motion, but declined to comment further.
The pensioner launched a legal challenge amid claims that Aberdeenshire Council should have obtained an environmental statement before granting the Trump Organisation permission to plant marram grass on dunes at Menie.
Mrs Forbes originally asked the Court of Session to stop the work while she raised her challenge, but the request was rejected in January after a judge ruled she had not been able to show good reason to call a halt.
She was, however, allowed to continue her bid for a judicial review of the planning decisions which led to the golf complex proposals being given consent.
Mrs Forbes then asked for a hearing, scheduled to take place next Tuesday, to be postponed while she applied for legal aid.
The request was refused, and the court found the pensioner liable for expenses incurred by the council and the Trump Organisation as they contested the move.
Mrs Forbes could now be found liable for the cost of the whole case.
Mrs Forbes’s home is one of four properties which the Trump Organisation hopes to acquire for the resort, which includes a 450-bedroom hotel, 950 holiday homes and 500 houses
The site is not required for Mr Trump’s championship course, but is included in a masterplan already approved by Aberdeenshire Council.
The local authority has refused to rule out using compulsory purchase orders for the property, as well as for three other homes.
