End Trump resort row for sake of economy, say business chiefs

TYCOON Donald Trump has won unprecedented backing among Scotland's business leaders for his controversial Aberdeenshire golf course development.

Six major business organisations have issued a joint statement supporting the American's project, after expressing fears that failure to secure approval would warn off foreign investors from Scotland.

Their intervention follows a bitter row over the development, which culminated last week in First Minister Alex Salmond being accused of a "cavalier" approach to the Trump deal.

Salmond met Trump's representatives last year after their multi-million pound plan had been rejected by Aberdeenshire Council's infrastructure committee. Ministers called in the application and have handed it over for further consideration to a full public inquiry.

The business chiefs said they have joined together to back the plans in an attempt to show that Scotland was open for business, and to call for the plans to get a quick approval.

They represent the British and Scottish Chambers of Commerce, the Confederation of British Industry, the Scottish Council for Development and Industry (SCDI), the Federation of Small Businesses and the Institute of Directors (IoD).

Trump plans to build two championship golf courses, a five-star hotel, a golf academy, almost 1,000 holiday homes and 500 private houses.

Opponents of the scheme say the courses would destroy one of the most spectacular stretches of untouched coastline in the country. There are also claims the plan is a smokescreen to hide a housing development that would hand Trump a vast profit.

But the business chiefs said Scotland should back the proposal. David Lonsdale, assistant director of the CBI, said: "We have consistently argued that Scotland's planning system ought to give far greater weight to the economic benefits of development."

SCDI manager Ian Armstrong said: "The proposed development at Menie Estate by the Trump organisation can be a significant economic driver."

Opposition to the scheme has included environmental groups, such as RSPB Scotland, and local residents, who claim it would have a major impact on wildlife.

Debra Storr, a local Lib Dem councillor, said: "It isn't the case that every business person wants this. Their objections are on public record."

Meanwhile, Alex Salmond has hit back at claims he broke the ministerial code of conduct.

He is the local MSP in the region and claimed he had a "bounden duty" to meet Trump's representatives last year after their plans were rejected.

But Holyrood's local government committee concluded he had shown "exceptionally poor judgment" in getting involved.

Scotland On Sunday Comment

Much emotional nonsense has been said about Donald Trump's £1bn plan. If you believed some, you would think we were witnessing a rerun of Local Hero, with plucky Scots up against a brash American multi-millionaire.

This newspaper understands the concerns of those who believe the Menie sands should be left undisturbed, and we share some suspicions that the golf course could be a Trojan horse for property development that could follow. However, having listened to both sides of the argument, we believe that Scotland should welcome the financial injection the development will bring. Politics must be taken out of this project. Planners must take cognisance of the economic benefits and arrive at the sensible conclusion – that it is right to create a magnificent golf course which feeds the economy and is sensitive to the environment.