“I think it sends out a devastating message that if you want to do big business don’t do it in the north-east of Scotland.”

Thanks to all the readers who sent the story of Donald Trump's planned Scottish course getting shot down by the Aberdeenshire Council. Here's the unbylined Guardian story, but this Louise Hosie and Matt Dickinson story for the Scottish Press Association was the most detailed, but I can't find it online to link.

The casting vote on whether to reject or defer the decision was made by committee chairman Martin Ford after a 7-7 deadlock.

Mr Ford warned members it would be a “grotesque mistake” to grant the application without any negotiation and voted to reject the application.

Shell-shocked George Sorial, Mr Trump’s right-hand man who was in Aberdeen for the meeting, spoke of his disappointment, also warning that the decision sent out a “devastating” message against doing business in north-east Scotland.

He said: “Obviously we are very disappointed.

“It is our position that the council has failed to adequately represent the voice and opinion of the people of Aberdeen and the shire who are ultimately the losers here.”

Mr Sorial added of the decision: “I think it sends out a devastating message that if you want to do big business don’t do it in the north-east of Scotland.”

Mr Trump’s team could now appeal to Scottish ministers, with the prospect of a lengthy public inquiry over the development a possibility.

Mr Sorial said they were “not sure” if they would make an appeal.

“I think we have been very frank all along – we do have options elsewhere in the UK and we will sit down now and look at that,” he said.

“We haven’t made a formal decision yet.”

This might explain what kind of people you're dealing with on the council:

Passionate arguments for and against the resort were heard during the meeting at the council headquarters in Aberdeen. Councillor Albert Howie said the chance for Aberdeenshire to have an international complex of this kind was an opportunity not to be missed.

“A golf course is a beautiful thing. They are an improvement to what, to me, is wasteland.

Beautiful dunes a wasteland? Obviously he hasn't been to Las Vegas.

But Councillor Alastair Ross said the council must play “hardball” with the Trump Organisation and refuse the application.“It is an economic investment – it is property speculation,” he said.“We are open for business but we have to do business that is good for Aberdeenshire – not at any price.”

His views were echoed by Councillor Debra Storr.“This is a very strange development, very outwith the ethos of the north-east of Scotland,” she said.“I have no faith in the application.

Comments

[stevef22]

Loved the Las Vegas comment.

[John Sullivan]

At last, a group with some common sense. The world DOES NOT NEED any more HIGH END resort complexes with the HIGH GREEN FEE COSTS. Lets get back to simpler times and affordable golf!!

[Smolmania]

And Mr. Forbes didn't even need to hire a lawyer. Kudos to the politicians who made this decision. I guess we need to give them a lot more credit than we thought.

[Steven T.]

This project would have passed if Trump put a casino there. Big mistake.

[Alfie Ward]

John,

99 times out of a hundred I would probably agree with your post - but not in this instance.
This application is about economy issue's of a scale we in Scotland would be mad to pass up.
The politician's who decided to reject the application did so on the side of the easy and non confrontational option.
The environmental issue is a whole load of BS, IMO.
In regard to Mr Forbes, well, good on him for sticking to his guns.......but 'his' few acres are an environmental disaster ??????

Alfie Ward. Scotland.

[Jeffrey Prest]

"The environmental issue is a whole load of BS"

As it always seems to be whenever it comes up against the demands of commerce. We all talk a great game about preserving a balance between Earth and economics, yet when it comes to it, the environment is suddenly an afterthought. I don't get it.

[Sid Coulling]

It's hard to comment intelligently on the basis of that single reporter's account, but from what I can gather, I can see some merit in the government/council's decision. They seem to be saying that although the project would have pumped money into the area, it would have also brought a real estate speculative element into the area, something they weren't comfortable foisting on the residents.

I'm not sure if that makes sense economically or not, and I'm not totally sure I am seeing the decision in the correct way. However, if they are in fact turning down money in order to preserve something else that they think is of greater value, such as their way of life, etc., then I think it's commendable.

Today, everything is about money, and selling out to the highest bidder. It's why Trump is who he is.

[Alfie Ward]

Jeffrey,

The Menie estate and it's coastline is far from being the last of it's kind in Scotland. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of miles of such coastline around our shores. What we don't have, are billionaires queuing up to invest such amounts in our economy. Every case where the environment is affected (anywhere) has to be assessed on it's merits. I firmly believe this project will be good for Scotland as a whole.

Sid,

This mornings latest from the home of golf ; those councillors who rejected the plan are being slated in the press and on the streets of Aberdeen. Public consensus of opinion hinted that most people / residents in the area were in favour of the dev't - not against it !

I agree, that everything today is about money, the greed factor etc....but we all live in a real world, and my main concern is that all this investment is heading OUT of Scotland ?

Alfie Ward.

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