Trump devastates Scotland’s natural beauty…for a golf course

Alan Thompson

Name:Alan Thompson
Member of:
Joined: Jan 2012
Occupation: final year academy student
Alan's Full Profile

“We will build the greatest golf course in the world” stated Donald Trump – but at what cost? The prospect of a world class golf course on the Menie Estate in Aberdeen was controversial to begin with: local MSP’s seeing it as an investment that would boost employment rates, ecologists seeing it as unnecessary destruction of a rare coastal landscape. But do the benefits really outweigh the disadvantages?

Donald Trump (possibly in a civil discussion with his team of ecologists). Photo Gage Skidmore

With the country facing a recession, MSP’s see the ₤750 million property development as something with great potential to bring sustainable employment to Aberdeenshire. The leisure resort is estimated to bring around 1400 permanent jobs according to the Trump Organization, but is it possible that these figures are exaggerated? Mr. Trump would canvas much more support for the campaign by exaggerating figures and deceiving MSPs, so it is highly possible that the Trump Organization have blown their figures out of proportion.

Common sense tells us that these new jobs will help decrease unemployment in the North East. Alex Salmond stated that “in tough times, substantial investment of this kind is at a premium.” Some locals also voiced their support, saying it is an investment in their future.

On the other hand, a significant minority of the public are outraged by the project. Fisherman Michael Forbes, who owns a large strip of land on the Menie estate, told Mr Trump he wouldn’t be willing to sell up at any price, as he represents the last of his family’s fishing heritage from the area. People in support of the development see this as a ploy to get the highest price possible for the land, but so far Mr Forbes has declined the offer of £450,000.

It is clear that Mr Forbes’ stubbornness angered Mr Trump. Trump launched a public attack on the condition of his property; “It is a pigsty. In the US we call it a slum.” This intimidation tactic was aimed to embarrass Mr Forbes nationwide, but Forbes remained defiant. He now faces the threat of being forced to leave by a compulsive purchase order. If the council passes this order, it suggests corruption in our councilors, as this is only meant to be used in circumstances where there are no alternatives – yet the course can be built around Mr Forbes’ land, or sited elsewhere.

In the event of compulsive purchase, the protest group Tripping up Trump instituted measures to increase the complexity of the process. People against the development have signed up to own plots of land on Mr Forbes’ twenty three acre strip, so in the event of compulsive purchase, the legal side of the process will become increasingly complicated as the property deeds could have up to ten thousand owners. These drastic actions should hopefully indicate to councillors the degree of local opposition.

Mr Trump has tried to play down the significance of these actions and has maintained the campaign momentum, despite the fact the protest group could majorly inconvenience the progress of the project if his bid for compulsive purchase succeeds.

Another objection to the development is that it will be built upon an ecologically sensitive stretch of sand dunes. Conservationist groups such as the RSPB are extremely concerned that the project will bring unnecessary destruction to one of Scotland’s finest coastal landscapes, and may stop rare bird species such as redshanks nesting in the area. In addition, some of Mr Trump’s own ecologists agreed that the course would inevitably cause avoidable damage to rare habitats. Undeterred by the counter-arguments from his own team of experts, Mr Trump still feels that for the course to be world class, it is vital he incorporates the rare sand dunes. Alex Salmond, agreeing with Mr Trump, said that; “it is entirely right and proper that the resources of the country are harnessed to boost one of our great industries.” Although maybe a majority of people agree with Alex Salmond in this case, is it right that he has made the executive decision for the course to go ahead just because he personally feels that it is for the greater good of Scotland?

The Balmedie Dunes, near the Menie Estate. Photo by michimaya

Although people being forced from their homes and the destruction of rare plant life are strong arguments against the project, these can be countered with the argument that development could enhance the tourism industry in North East Scotland. Figures from a financial review on the project undertaken by the firm Delloite estimated that the whole project, if successful, will inject £643 million into the local economy during the construction phase, (assuming local building firms are given the contract) and will then generate a net income of £47 million each year. The completed project will provide an alternative source of employment to compensate for any further decline in the oil industry and will also keep generating a steady flow of income into Aberdeen.

It is widely understood that Donald Trump boasts that his new development will be the greatest golf course in the world and will boost the financial position of the North East, but figures released in the Delloite review do not necessarily confirm this. The predicted figures of the net present value show that the cash flow of the golf course alone is significantly lower than that of the residential estate, therefore posing the question, is Donald Trump only building the golf course to focus the media’s attention on how great it will be, to distract everyone from the fact he will be building housing on a Greenfield site? It would make sense after-all; the housing proposal alone at Menie would immediately be rejected, but if you say you will build a luxury golf course that will generate millions, it may just swing the decision in your favour.

This raises alarming questions about Mr Trump’s business ethics: has he become so successful through trickery and deceit? When we look at his history it is undoubtedly decorated with success, but there is evidence of previous large property developments turning sour. An example of this is his involvement in the Baja condo hotel project in Mexico. Trump licensed his name to the project’s developers, and promoted the resort in boastful language similar to what he has said about the Menie Estate golf courset. But the hotel never materialized, leaving one hundred and eighty people who had put down deposits for properties in the resort out of pocket by as much as one million dollars each!

Mr Trump’s track record has been tainted by bad deals and projects that have not met their full potential. By committing to the development, the Scottish Government took a huge risk. Another point that invites speculation is how the project, originally rejected by Aberdeenshire council, had then been reconsidered by the Scottish parliament and the original decision overruled. Was there a secret deal that changed the minds of our councillors, or were they just so in awe at Mr Trump’s wealth that democracy got thrown out the window? I personally feel that the course should not have gone ahead given Mr Trump’s history of dubious property investments and the way people are being forced out of their homes just for the sake for a golf course. Our Scottish Parliament should take a leaf out of Mr Forbes’ book and learn to value principles more than money. We will all find out soon enough whether or not Mr Trump’s development will be a success. The contractors have already started construction on the Menie Estate. Despite all the protest it still went ahead; let us hope our parliament has made the right decision.