Donald Trump ignores homes as golf vision unveiled

The furore over the threat of families being forced from their homes to pave the way for Donald Trump's £1 billion golf resort was re-ignited yesterday after the tycoon's master plan for the controversial development was finally published.

The 1,000-page document, detailing how Trump plans to transform the Menie links in Aberdeenshire into the "world's greatest golf course", was handed to officials at Aberdeenshire Council, marking a major step forward in the lengthy planning process.

The massive document contains details of environmental, landscaping, construction and infrastructure plans for the major development.

And, speaking from his headquarters in New York, Mr Trump declared: "This is another significant step towards our goal of building the world's greatest golf course and resort."

But opponents of the landmark scheme yesterday claimed that the weighty document appeared to "assume" the eviction of four families living on the edge of the Menie estate, who fear they could be thrown out of their homes to enable the development to proceed.

Martin Ford, the local councillor who has emerged as leading critic of the Trump resort, declared: "The question now is how long before Mr Trump renews his demands for compulsory purchase of residents' homes. The aerial view of the scheme appears to show a block of holiday flats built on top of one of the properties and a golf course swallowing up another."

He continued: "The homes in question do not belong to Mr Trump and the families living in them have stated clearly and repeatedly that their homes are not for sale.

"The assumption that somehow these homes can be swept away shows a complete disregard for the feelings and rights of those who live in them."

But Sarah Malone, vice-president of Trump International Golf Links Scotland, insisted: "Our position on compulsory purchase has not changed – it is an option of last resort within the Scottish planning process."

Full Story: The Scotsman