Sensational twist in the Menie Estate saga
SALMOND CALLS THE SHOTS: SCOTLAND'S GOVERNMENT
WILL DECIDE WHETHER
TRUMP GETS GO-AHEAD
Scotland's SNP Government has taken the bull by the horns and intervened in the Donald Trump International Golf Links saga.
In an unprecedented move, Alex Salmond, pictured right, has intervened and called in the American billionaire's application to build two links courses, one four-story hotel and the best part of 1,000 holiday homes and apartments on the Menie Estate, Balmedie off the Aberdeen to Ellon road.
This means that the Scottish Government will decide if he is given the go-ahead or not.
Last week, on the casting vote of an avowed Green conservationist, Trump was denied planning permission.
A statement from the Scottish Government said: "Ministers recognise that the application raises issues of importance that require consideration at a national level. Calling the application in allows ministers the opportunity to give full scrutiny to all aspects of this proposal before reaching a final decision."
Alex Salmond and his Cabinet decided on their drastic intervention after Northern Ireland's First Minister, Ian Paisley, revealed that he was making contact personally with Trump to offer him virtually the freedom of Ulster to build what he liked, where he liked.
"Of course we welcome any one who wants to invest in Northern Ireland and who has an interest, in creating jobs, making money and developing our tourist industry."
Aberdeenshire Council leader Anne Robertson welcomed the decision by the Scottish Government.
She said: "What is important in all this is securing the economic future of the North-east of Scotland. The Scottish Government quite rightly feels this application raises issues of such importance that they require scrutiny at a national level.
"If the decision of ministers to call this application in keeps it alive, then we welcome this intervention."
Nanette Milne, Conservative MSP for North-east Scotland, said: "This issue is of enormous importance, to the economy not only of the North-east but of Scotland as a whole. Given this magnitude, it is right that it should be decided nationally by ministers, and not by a council committee comprising 14 members."
In an unprecedented move, Alex Salmond, pictured right, has intervened and called in the American billionaire's application to build two links courses, one four-story hotel and the best part of 1,000 holiday homes and apartments on the Menie Estate, Balmedie off the Aberdeen to Ellon road.
This means that the Scottish Government will decide if he is given the go-ahead or not.
Last week, on the casting vote of an avowed Green conservationist, Trump was denied planning permission.
A statement from the Scottish Government said: "Ministers recognise that the application raises issues of importance that require consideration at a national level. Calling the application in allows ministers the opportunity to give full scrutiny to all aspects of this proposal before reaching a final decision."
Alex Salmond and his Cabinet decided on their drastic intervention after Northern Ireland's First Minister, Ian Paisley, revealed that he was making contact personally with Trump to offer him virtually the freedom of Ulster to build what he liked, where he liked.
"Of course we welcome any one who wants to invest in Northern Ireland and who has an interest, in creating jobs, making money and developing our tourist industry."
Aberdeenshire Council leader Anne Robertson welcomed the decision by the Scottish Government.
She said: "What is important in all this is securing the economic future of the North-east of Scotland. The Scottish Government quite rightly feels this application raises issues of such importance that they require scrutiny at a national level.
"If the decision of ministers to call this application in keeps it alive, then we welcome this intervention."
Nanette Milne, Conservative MSP for North-east Scotland, said: "This issue is of enormous importance, to the economy not only of the North-east but of Scotland as a whole. Given this magnitude, it is right that it should be decided nationally by ministers, and not by a council committee comprising 14 members."
Labels: Golf Development
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Tuesday, December 04, 2007
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