A small part of the Scottish countryside, including protected sand dunes and wild life sanctuary, is about to become part of the Donald Trump empire.
He’s won planning permission, against much opposition from environmentalists and wild life interests, to build a massive golf resort just north of Aberdeen. Most people would think Scotland was pretty well off for stretches of land where guys in funny trousers whack a small ball around the place but Donald sees a good commercial proposition here.
The McTrump complex will include two golf courses, a five-star hotel, exclusive chalets, timeshare flats and a “Trump Boulevard.” No doubt it will all be done in the best possible taste.
It’s understood that the £500 million development will bring in 6,000 jobs, 1400 of them permanent positions, which will certainly be useful in the tough economic times ahead. This gained Trump substantial support from local politicians and the Scottish National Party, and so in typical bullish form he refused to consider a compromise proposal which would have allowed him the development but also protected the sand dunes, which are an official Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Yet Trump still has a problem. As Tony Blair found out, it’s rare to travel through life without at some point finding a canny, stubborn, gloomy Scot in the way.
Fisherman Michael Forbes, whose family have for generations run a farm slap bang in the middle of the site, has said he’s staying where he is and will never sell to Trump, who has so far offered him £375,000. Is Forbes sincere or just holding out for more cash?
It looks like Donald will have to open his wallet a few more times to find out.