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Tycoon heads for Holyrood in bid to stop ‘monsters’
Credit: By Ashleigh Barbour, The Press and Journal, www.pressandjournal.co.uk 25 April 2012 ~~
Translate: FROM English | TO English
Translate: FROM English | TO English
All eyes will be on Holyrood today when Donald Trump is called in front of Scottish ministers to give evidence on the government’s renewable energy plans.
The appearance marks another step in the billionaire businessman’s battle to safeguard the view from his £750million Menie Estate golf course.
A windfarm of 11 turbines, measuring 639ft high – or “horrible monsters” as Mr Trump described them yesterday – could be built just a few miles off the coast of his Balmedie resort.
Mr Trump said he felt “betrayed” and “very let down” by Scottish ministers who support wind energy – but insisted he was not going to the Scottish Parliament to start any fights.
“All I have in mind is the best interests of Scotland – and I assume that’s what they have too,” he said, from his Menie Estate.
“So we’re really not enemies. We’re teammates and friends, in theory. And I hope that’s what it turns out to be.”
Mr Trump has long been vocal about the potential impact of wind energy on Scotland’s tourism and the damaging effect turbines would have on the country’s “beautiful coastline”.
As he touched down at Aberdeen Airport on Sunday, he blasted the construction of a 218ft turbine at the Royal Aberdeen golf course, saying it had “destroyed” any chances of the course ever holding worldclass matches again.
Mr Trump believes that if the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC) is approved in Aberdeen Bay it could ruin his own chances at holding such prestigious events – and that other countries will reap the benefits of his misfortune.
“It’s not going to help Royal Aberdeen, and it will not help us,” he said.
“To take something this great, and to do what they’re doing is incredible. Scotland’s tourism industry will be destroyed. Places like Ireland will take all of Scotland’s tourism.”
Mr Trump still believes the proposed windfarm – which would allow developers and supply chain companies to test new designs, prove existing products and receive independent validation and accreditation – will not go ahead.
And he is not prepared to consider any other outcome. “I just don’t want to think about it at this time,” he said. “I don’t think it will happen though, because I don’t believe the leaders of Scotland could be that stupid to allow it to happen.
“What I certainly won’t be doing though is building a £250million hotel, and the many other things that I would have happily built, it if goes ahead.”
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