Trump's latest move is an abuse of the legislation on compulsory purchase

Just when we thought Donald Trump and his organisation could stoop no lower, the news that he may ask Aberdeenshire Council to secure land from owners at Menie by compulsory purchase should be an affront to all fair-minded people.

The legislation covering the use of compulsory purchase powers states that these should be used only where "the needs of society as a whole override the individual's right of ownership". Using that definition, one could accept the use of compulsory purchase to acquire land for roads projects designed to improve road management and safety, and one might also accept that the enforced acquisition of land for a school development might benefit the future education of Scotland's young people.

Using the same yardstick, the Trump organisation's Menie development can in no way be described as meeting the needs of society as a whole. In fact, Trump's "golf resort" would do quite the opposite, since the gated housing developments, hotel and golf facilities will be within the reach of only the select few who could to afford to pay. Or will Mr Trump be providing a proportion of socially rented houses within his overall mix?

It will be nothing short of scandalous if Aberdeenshire councillors are seen to be complicit in Trump's bullying tactics to acquire land from owners who do not wish to sell, at least not for the derisory values which appear to have been proposed. If Mr Trump gets his way we will be in great danger of repeating the much-publicised situation in Spain, where developers routinely persuade local councils to force residents from legally built homes to make way for supermarkets and the like. Can that possibly be justified?

Full Story: The Scotsman