US real estate developer Donald Trump has put up an impassioned defence of his plans to build “the world’s greatest golf course” on an environmentally sensitive site near Aberdeen.
Trump argued his case earlier today at the public inquiry into his proposals for the Menie estate, Balmedie, which includes two links courses, a hotel, 950 holiday homes and 500 private residences.
He said he would not build the development unless he was permitted to build seven holes for one of the two courses on a dune system defined as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
“If I was refused permission to develop on the southern end of the SSSI, I would withdraw from this development because it would not fulfil my ambition of making the course truly great,” he said.
“In the US we have an expression, ‘half-assed’. Let’s do it properly.”
The inquiry was launched independently by the Scottish Government after local councillors in Aberdeenshire rejected Trump’s proposals.
In a colourful performance, Trump claimed that the scheme, which requires “stabilisation” of the dunes, would “preserve and enhance” the site.
Under cross-examination by counsel for the RSPB and Scottish Natural Heritage, he said the site’s current state is “disgusting”, with “garbage” and “bird carcasses” all over it.
Trump confessed to buying the development site four years ago without having seen it and said he had not been aware of its SSSI status at the time.
He added that he had not read the evidence presented to the inquiry from his own environmental team, including that of Dr Tom Dargie, an expert on dune geomorphology, who has raised concerns about the golf resort’s environmental impact.
The inquiry is expected to conclude early next month and Scottish ministers could reach a decision before the end of the year.
