Jody Harrison
Reporter
DONALD Trump has claimed he is proud to have “saved the magnificent”
Balmedie Dunes” reserve – despite announcing he is to sell off part of his
north-eastern estate after withdrawing plans to build another golf course
in Scotland.
The US tycoon further criticised offshore wind farms, which he blames for
his decision to sell at the Trump International Golf Links in
Aberdeenshire. He said: “I am very proud of what I have done for Scotland
in saving the magnificent dunes and creating what is considered to be,
perhaps, the single greatest golf course in the world today.”
Mr Trump said it had brought a lot of business to the country, but he
added: “The wind turbines proposed for Aberdeen Bay, if built, will have a
devastating impact on the environment, business, tourism and the cost of
electricity and energy for home-owners, not to mention the thousands of
birds that will be killed on a monthly basis.”
Earlier, Mr Trump’s son Donald jnr said that land around the championship
course at Menie, Aberdeenshire, could now be sold off as the developer
directs efforts “elsewhere” after losing a legal bid against offshore wind
turbines.
Mr Trump has been involved in a battle with the Scottish Government over
plans to build the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC). He
lodged plans in October for a second course, but has now withdrawn them.
Now Donald Jnr has said that other plans to develop the area could also be
scrapped.
He said: “The golf course is safe. It is part of the Trump portfolio. But
we will not be investing in the other parts of the project. How could we
spend any more capital when we are faced with this environment?”
Mr Trump has long threatened to pull the plug on his Scottish development
if the turbines are built. He announced the purchase of Doonbeg Golf Club,
County Clare, in Ireland just hours after the Court of Session in Edinburgh
ruled against him.
Sarah Malone, Executive Vice President at Trump International Golf Links
Scotland, said: “Everyone taking decisions in government are failing to
understand that they will not get both projects.
“It is either one or the other – we won’t ‘muddle through’. They are
mutually exclusive. It is either 30 jobs generated by the EOWDC or 4000
jobs created by the Trump development.”
A Scottish government spokesman said it was up to Mr Trump where his
company invested, but added: “With an estimated 25% of Europe’s offshore
wind potential, the offshore wind industry in Scotland can deliver billions
of pounds of investment and create thousands of jobs while playing a
critical role in the fight against climate change.”
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