By Ryan Crighton, Business Editor
Donald Trump will jet into Aberdeen today with a fresh pledge to restart
work at his £750million northeast golf resort – if a plan for an offshore
windfarm are scrapped.
He will touch down at Aberdeen International Airport this morning before
flying to Dubai to oversee his next luxury golf project.
He arrived in Ayrshire earlier this week to visit the Turnberry course he
purchased last month.
Last night, he told the Press and Journal he believes he now has the two
best courses in the world – both of which he hopes can be used to host the
Open championship.
But he remains unwavering in his decision not to invest any more in his
resort at Menie Estate, near Balmedie, unless he wins his wind-turbine fight.
“We far exceeded the promise we made to Scotland,” he said. “We have
delivered a very special golf course. People all over the world are talking
about it and we are getting record bookings.
“I look forward to continuing the development – as soon as that windfarm is
taken off the table.”
Mr Trump axed plans for a luxury hotel and a second course at Menie Estate
after the Scottish Government backed the European Offshore Wind Deployment
Centre. Butthe greenenergy project has been beset by problems and Mr Trump
is challenging it in the courts.
In addition, plans for a substation at Blackdog, to bring power ashore,
have been rejected by Aberdeenshire Council.
Vattenfall, the 75% stakeholder in the project, is looking to sell its
share – and, last month, Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group, which holds the
remaining stake, handed over the running of the project to Aberdeen City
Council.
Mr Trump also says he plans to invest up to £36million in a golf course he
has bought in the west of Ireland. He visited Doonbeg Links, in Co Clare,
before travelling to Turnberry.
The American tycoon said yesterday he was “sad” to see Scotland, the
country which was home to his mother, being “destroyed”.
“Scotland is a beautiful country – but it has a death wish.
“Wind turbines are destroying the country.
“The council in Aberdeen should do its people a great favour and abandon
this scheme, which is doomed to lose money.”
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