May 16, 2014
Scotland

Donald Trump vows investment if turbines scrapped

by JON HEBDITCH | The Scotsman | 15 May 2014 | www.scotsman.com

Billionaire tycoon Donald Trump made a flying visit to his Aberdeenshire golf course, but vowed not to invest any more money in it until a controversial turbine project was scrapped.

Trump, 67, said he was willing to restart work at the £750 million Menie Estate course if Aberdeen City Council chiefs “took the windfarm off the table”.

The US businessman touched down at Aberdeen International Airport yesterday morning before heading off to the links at the Menie Estate in the afternoon.

He was due to fly out to Dubai later to oversee another of his golf projects.

Trump has objected to the proposed 11-turbine development off Aberdeen Bay since it was first put forward in August last year, saying it will ruin the view for people playing on the Aberdeenshire course.

He axed plans for a luxury hotel and a second course at Menie Estate and vowed to never invest in the course again after the Scottish Government rejected his appeal against the turbine plan in February. His legal team are planning a fresh appeal.

He arrived in Ayrshire earlier this week to visit the £35.7 million Turnberry course he purchased last month.

But he said he stands by his decision not to invest any more in his resort at Menie Estate, near Balmedie, unless he wins his wind-turbine fight.

He said: “We far exceeded the promise we made to Scotland.

“We have delivered a very special golf course. People all over the world are talking about it and we are getting record bookings.

“I look forward to continuing the development – as soon as that windfarm is taken off the table.”

Vattenfall, the 75% stakeholder in the windfarm project, is looking to sell its share and Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group, which holds the remaining stake, last month handed over the running of the project to Aberdeen City Council.

Trump also plans to invest up to #36million in a golf course he has bought in the west of Ireland.

He visited Doonbeg Links, in Co Clare, before travelling to Turnberry.

The American tycoon said yesterday he was “sad” to see Scotland, where his mother was born, being “destroyed”.

He said: “Scotland is a beautiful country, but it has a death wish. Wind turbines are destroying the country.

“The council in Aberdeen should do its people a great favour and abandon this scheme, which is doomed to lose money.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/05/16/donald-trump-vows-investment-if-turbines-scrapped/