October 5, 2012
Scotland

Trump planning turbine lawsuit: ‘I’ll build best hotel yet – if windfarm rejected’

By Shona Gossip | The Press and Journal | 05/10/2012 | www.pressandjournal.co.uk

Donald Trump said yesterday he was ready to build the greatest hotel Scotland has ever seen – but only if SNP ministers reject plans for a huge offshore windfarm.

He made the pledge as he arrived in the north-east to spend a few days at his championship course in Aberdeenshire.

However, his visit also coincided with Scottish Natural Heritage withdrawing its objection to the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre – the fourth statutory body to do so in as many days.

Mr Trump is vehemently opposed to the scheme, which he believes will spoil the views from his course at the Menie Estate, near Balmedie.

He is threatening to take legal action if the scheme is approved by the Scottish Government and in the meantime has halted work on the five-star hotel and holiday homes at his £750million resort.

Last night, Mr Trump’s head of development, George Sorial, said they were :ready, willing and able” to deliver the £250million hotel, but only if plans for 11 turbines at Aberdeen Bay were rejected.

Speaking shortly after arriving at Aberdeen Airport, Mr Trump said he was “ready” to create one of the top hotels in Europe.

He said: “I’m ready to build a hotel. It will be the best hotel in Scotland and one of the best hotels in Europe.

“Everybody wants near our course.”

Plans for the 450-bedroom hotel were submitted in the masterplan for Mr Trump’s golf course, which opened in July.

Just last week, Trump International began advertising a number of hospitality jobs, including an accommodation and guest services manager, housekeepers and bar staff, but insisted there had been no U-turn on the hotel stance.

Mr Sorial said: “We are willing, ready and able to build a hotel, but we will not do that until the EOWDC application is rejected.

“There’s a willingness and desire to do it but nothing will happen if there are wind turbines off the coastline. We have finished here if the turbines go forward – it’s that simple and that position will not change.”

Yesterday, Mr Trump repeated his concerns that the test centre would consist of mismatched, unsightly turbines and said they were a “terrible thing” for Scotland.

He warned he was planning a “massive lawsuit” over the £200million scheme.

He said: “We want to do something to help Scotland. We will fight it. We have good lawyers.”

SNH is the fourth statutory consultee this week to have announced a deal with the developers.

The Ministry of Defence and National Air Traffic Service, which were concerned the turbines would affect radar systems, have withdrawn their objections, subject to a set of planning conditions.

RSPB Scotland has also changed its stance after new information showed the development would have a low impact on wildlife.

Mr Trump said the terms of the agreement would be “impossible” to fulfil and vowed to carry on with litigation against the structive project”.

He is due to share his concerns about wind turbines with the Westminster government next week.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/10/05/trump-planning-turbine-lawsuit-ill-build-best-hotel-yet-if-windfarm-rejected/