September 25, 2015
Scotland

Trump takes wind farm fight to Supreme Court

Victoria Weldon, Reporter | The Herald | Thursday 24 September 2015 | www.heraldscotland.com

The legal battle between billionaire Donald Trump and the Scottish Government over a proposed offshore wind farm is set to be heard in the UK’s highest court.

The outspoken businessman claims the 11-turbine plan for Aberdeen Bay would ruin his golf course at Menie Estate.

He has already contested the decision to grant permission for the wind farm at the Court of Session in Scotland, claiming the move was illegal, but judges rejected his case in June this year.

An appeal against that decision will now take place next month at the Supreme Court.

Details of the case posted on the court’s website state: “[Trump International Golf Club Scotland Limited], whose Menie Golf Course is situated within 3.5km of the nearest proposed wind turbine, opposes the construction of the wind farm.

“The appellants brought proceedings seeking a declarator that the [Scottish ministers’] decision was unlawful.”

The appeal centres on a dispute over the class of person entitled to construct an electricity generator and whether the decision by the Scottish Government is void due to a lack of mechanisms in place to ensure compliance with the wind farm’s design statement.

Speaking after he lost his case at the Court of Session, Mr Trump, who also owns Trump Turnberry golf course in Ayrshire, said it was “impossible to have a fair hearing challenging wind farm applications in Scotland”.

He has also criticised former First Minister Alex Salmond, accusing him of abusing his power and “hurting the people of Scotland” over his support for wind farms.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/09/25/trump-takes-wind-farm-fight-to-supreme-court/