MICHAEL SETTLE
DONALD Trump has lashed out at the Scottish Government for allowing wind
farms to “blight” the natural beauty of “his beloved Scotland”.
The President-elect’s outburst came, it emerged, during his famous hourlong
conversation with Nigel Farage, the acting Ukip leader, who stole a march
on other politicians by being the first to have a chat with the billionaire
businessman at his New York home last week.
It is also suggested that Mr Trump is now being lined up for an invitation
to meet the Queen next year as UK Government ministers consider how best to
promote the transatlantic “special relationship” and strike a free trade
deal with the United States. Prime Minister Theresa May is expected to
visit the President-elect before his inauguration on January 20 when the
invitation to Buckingham Palace could be made.
Mr Trump, who owns a golf links resort on the Aberdeenshire coast as well
as the famous Turnberry course, has had run-ins with local authorities in
Scotland about wind farms, the building of which he has branded “public
vandalism”.
Andy Wigmore, Leave.EU’s communications chief, who accompanied Mr Farage at
the meeting in New York, explained: “We covered a lot of ground during the
hour-long meeting we had.
“But one thing Mr Trump kept returning to was the issue of wind farms. He
is a complete anglophile and also absolutely adores Scotland, which he
thinks is one of the most beautiful places on Earth. But he is dismayed
that his beloved Scotland has become overrun with ugly wind farms which he
believes are a blight on the stunning landscape.”
Mr Wigmore added: “It is clear that it is an issue he is very passionate
about and not because he is against renewable energy or green technology
but because he genuinely thinks wind farms are damaging Scotland’s
bountiful natural beauty.”
In December 2015, Mr Trump lost his bid to stop wind turbines being built
within sight of his multi-million pound Aberdeenshire golf resort at
Balmedie. The UK Supreme Court rejected his case made against the Scottish
Government, which had approved the plan to build 11 wind turbines off
Aberdeen.
Vattenfall, the Swedish company, said it would press ahead with its £300
million development, which is due to be completed by 2018.
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