Taking on Trump

In 2006 Donald Trump announced his plans to build a substantial golf and leisure resort in Aberdeenshire, and the then Labour administration wasted no time in cosying up to him.

Trump's plans included building on a mobile dune system listed as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and opposition quickly spread. The plans were thrown out by a Council committee in 2007, on the casting vote of Councillor Martin Ford, now a member of the Scottish Green Party.

Neither the local administration nor SNP Ministers were prepared to let this decision stand, and Trump's financial interests were repeatedly put ahead of conservation and the needs of local residents. An inquiry was held, and, following a meeting between Alex Salmond and Mr Trump, SNP Ministers backed a recommendation to approve the project.

Despite these efforts to bend over backwards to help Mr Trump, he then declared that the land he acquired isn't sufficient to deliver the project, despite having made a clear commitment on the David Letterman show that "I don't need it. It's not in the way of what I'm doing.". He has been quoted saying he is still prepared to use Compulsory Purchase Orders to take these properties as a last resort, and a letter from Trump International in March 2009 clearly set out his plans to do so.

In October 2009 Aberdeenshire Council refused to accept a motion blocking the use of Compulsory Purchase Orders, but the campaign against these unpopular proposals continues.

You can sign the 38 Degrees petition against evicting local residents here.

The Scottish Greens also support Tripping Up Trump, a local campaign group also working to block the Compulsory Purchases.

UPDATE: Donald Trump has told the P&J that he will not now pursue compulsory purchase.