By Blair Dingwall
US tycoon Donald Trump yesterday claimed that wind farms were a “disaster”
that were “killing” Scotland during a brief visit to his Aberdeenshire
estate yesterday.
The billionaire travelled north from his newly-purchased Turnberry Estate,
in Ayrshire, yesterday morning for a one day visit to the Menie Estate.
Mr Trump has halted further developments at Menie, including plans for a
second golf course, unless plans for the European Offshore Wind Deployment
Centre (EOWDC) in Aberdeen Bay are abandoned.
And yesterday the businessman also renewed his pledge that as soon as the
Scottish government gave up “the charade” of a proposed wind farm for the
region, the developments would be ready to go.
He took the opportunity to hail the Menie Estate for doing “record
business” – claiming the golf course would be fine without the need to
attract a major tournament in the future.
He added that plans for an event to rival the Scottish Open was ‘not on the
radar’ of the Trump Organisation.
Mr Trump said: “We’re doing phenomenally well and as soon as they give up
the charade of the windmills – which are destroying every place that they
touch, they are a disaster for Scotland – as soon as they drop that
ridiculous idea I’ll start working here again.
“You know, we built a great course, we’re doing great business. It’s all
set, and as soon as they drop this ridiculous idea of wind turbines
destroying Aberdeen, we’ll start again.”
Mr Trump added that the abundance of wind turbines in Scotland as a whole
was “a disgrace”.
He said: “They shouldn’t allow these windfarms. Scotland is going to die
with these windmills, they’re killing Scotland.
“You fly over the landscape, it’s ruined. It’s got many years to go in the
court system and we’ll fight it for many years if we have to.”
Mr Trump arrived in a newly purchased Sikorsky S-76B helicopter, which he
will use for trips between his estates in Scotland and Doonbeg, in Country
Clare, Ireland.
He said: “I just came here for two days and prior to going back to New
York, I wanted to see everything and check it out and it’s incredible. It’s
been an amazing success.
“I went to Doonbeg, I went to Turnberry and now I’m here. I’m so proud,
it’s doing so well, doing record business and everything, and we’re
bringing so much business to Aberdeen.
“I love the people of Aberdeen.”
He will head back to Manhattan, New York City, today.
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