Golf Archives - Page 11 of 18

Kept In The Dark: Trump Snubs Council

Aberdeenshire, Featured, News 3 Responses »

Apr 262013

On April 23 the Formartine Councillors should have had two site visits to the Menie Estate parking lot – which had been erected in a manner inconsistent with the agreed permission. The high bunds by the Munro home Leyton Cottage should have also been examined as they were not approved. The second of the two visits was meant to take place at approximately 9pm, and was meant to show how the lighting affects the area: the Trump organisation did not show and did not turn the lights on – for the first time in residents’ memories. Suzanne Kelly reports.

As nature intended. Temporary marquee 230413

The 5.30 meeting was amazingly brief; so brief in fact I virtually missed it. Councillors attended the parking lot, and unfortunately most did not pay sufficient attention to the bund built on Leyton Farm road by the Munro’s residence.

I had written to the councillors involved to point out that the bund, not built per the approved plans, seemed to have slipped off the scope of the retrospective permission request.

These bunds block light, block view, and more importantly are blowing sand and dirt into the Munro property.

The photograph of the sign in this article shows sand built up since sandstorms earlier this month; it is at the entrance to the Munro’s driveway.

Only a few councillors had answered my email about the bunds and assured me they would look at the situation; according to residents who watched the site visit (note – no comments were taken from the public who were only permitted to observe proceedings), only a few of the councillors ventured to the other side of the high, incongruous gate separating the parking from Leyton Farm Road to actually take in the giant scale of the bund.

This bund must not be allowed to simply be described as ‘landscaping’ – a euphemism used all too often in planning applications as an unquestionable remedy for environmental upheaval and environmental damage.

For instance the planned football stadium for Loirston Loch was going to infringe on wildlife territory – two EU protected species and many coastal birds (long in decline) were to be negatively impacted, but at the time remedial screening and ‘landscaping’ was put forward as a remedy by proponents, although the actual value of such landscaping for wildlife is questionable.

Susan Munro with another dying tree 23 04 13

Campaigners will work to ensure that there is no successful move to treat the earth bunds as landscaping. The golf club owners seem very keen on planting fir trees on these sandy bunds. These trees, exposed to wind, salt spray and asked to grow on sandy soil keep dying, as illustrated. They are replaced once nearly dead, an incredible waste of living trees.

The council may simply seek to consider the bund problem solved by forcing Trump to stop planting trees on them. This will not at all solve the problem of the lack of light, view or sand/dirt blowing into the Munro property, and is no solution..

Despite many requests to the Aberdeenshire council planning and media relations offices, there is still no satisfactory explanation of crucial questions.

I had been written to by Gordon Lyon who assured me weekly site visits had been carried out at the time to ensure compliance with the approved plans. If this level of overseeing did take place, why then were parking and bunds erected which were non-compliant?

This question needs addressing.

Lyon also assured me that the temporary bunds were taken down – I had clearly described the bund by the Munro family home when I wrote. It seems a porous parking lot surface was specified in the approved plan, which called for the layout to be sympathetic to the existing landscape. In the event, a huge, rectangular, non-porous parking area was created.

These anomalies need to be addressed.

The temporary marquee is massive, and has metal sides with windows. It is my understanding this structure can stay up for 28 days before it must be removed. It went up approximately 6 days before this meeting took place. Residents will monitor the situation.

A large party is scheduled for the marquee over this coming weekend; it seems that residents and wildlife will have to get used to such gatherings. Normal legislation permits noise up until 11pm at night, after which sound levels are to be kept low. We will see how this is respected.

However, the most sensational part of the evening was a non-event.

The ‘twilight’ visit was tentatively scheduled for 9pm. I had been with the residents from 5.30 until this start time; we arrived from a resident’s home at 8:50pm. We knew the meeting might start late, as councillors first had to attend a meeting at Blackdog concerning controversial wind farm plans.

We waited. No lights came on. The full moon – which would have made determining the lighting’s effect and light spill very difficult anyway – was the only light.

Residents and supporters present commented that the lights had virtually always come on once it got dark. But not this evening.

At approximately 09:50 the first cars arrived in the parking area. Councillors assembled. The lot remained dark.

One window in the clubhouse had light shining from it; I volunteered to walk down and see if anyone was in, but there was no answer at the locked door.

The councillors and onlookers waited. Ms Malone, who had attended the 5.30 meeting never showed up. Security, usually an all-pervading presence at the estate and who are known to jump out in front of people at night were likewise nowhere to be seen.

Suffice it to say that even councillors sympathetic to the Trump organisation were not best pleased, and approximately 15 minutes later they announced they would be leaving, unable to see the effects of the lights. The lights stand on extremely high posts, one of which is near the Munro cottage.

With no lights on, it was clear that nocturnal wildlife is in the area. Bats, protected by EU environmental regulations were very much in evidence, as was an owl or two. It was brought up in discussion with residents that two modern buildings which replaced traditional steading buildings near the top of Leyton Farm road used to have bats roosting.

The new structures, again erected apparently without planning permission, are of a metal construction, and are not conducive to bats roosting. How wildlife which may have roosted in the old buildings was dealt with when the new buildings were erected should be looked into by environmental council officers.

The steadings should likewise be scrutinised, and if planning permission was needed (as an expert in traditional buildings tells me is the case), then action should be taken.

Councillors were not making comments to the observers, but it was plain to see that no one was happy to have wasted their time. Whether or not this disregard for a scheduled planning assessment visit will go against the Trump organisation in future will be watched closely.

For now, the bunds remain at the Munro property, light spill remains unmeasured. But for the Trump organisation, everything is just fine.

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In Conversation With Alicia Bruce – Part 1

Aberdeenshire, Featured, Opinion 2 Responses »

Apr 222013

Suzanne Kelly reports on a recent conversation with artist Alicia Bruce in a two-part article. The first looks at her background and her work regarding the Menie Estate.

Alicia Bruce with her exhibition at the Scottish Parliament in February 2013

Alicia Bruce was the first photographer to show the world the human cost of the Trump development at the Menie Estate, countering the anti-resident propaganda which dominates the local press to this day.
Aberdeen Voice was keen to find out more about her and her photography, and we finally catch up with her as she closes a show at Holyrood and works on a local project.

When and how did you decide to embark on a career in photography? Where did you study? Who and what inspired you?

I was 19 and studying Social Sciences. My friend had a key to a darkroom – it was that moment when the first print came up in the darkroom and that was that. It kind of changed my life and direction – I was completely obsessed and decided that was what I was going to do.

I turned up at Aberdeen College with a portfolio and said ‘let me in!’ I did an HND there followed by a degree in Photograph and Film in Edinburgh.

You are known for your work with the residents at the Menie Estate? How did you get interested in this subject?

I started the project in 2010 I had a exhibition slot a Peacock Visual Arts the following January. The project began out of curiosity and also questioning what I was reading in the media and, the local press in general about Mike Forbes, ‘Trump Opponent’. I thought ‘Is this guy really that angry – how can he sustain this?’

I’d visited the site with the project in mind once before, but went around the edges, the beach. I then went to visit Mike’s croft. He could have slammed the door in my face. – I told him I had an exhibition coming up and I’d like to feature a portrait of him. Mike thought this was brilliant; he was so welcoming and a real comedian.

He couldn’t have been nicer or more different from how he was portrayed in the press at that time.

David McCue was having his ‘Triumphant’ exhibition in Mike’s barn that same day and the atmosphere was electric. That day I also met Susan Munro, John Munro, Sheila Forbes, David Milne, Molly Forbes, Anthony Baxter (who had just started filming his documentary) and Martin Ford to name a few.

We all hit it off and they were keen to tell me what was happening. Susan and John were excited about my project idea as they loved my ‘Flood in the Highlands: after Sir Edwin Landseer’ photograph. They had just seen some Landseer’s at the Glen Affric Lodge.

The community spirit and welcoming atmosphere that day was a million miles away from the media perceptions of the area. I made time to meet all the residents individually later that week. Their hospitality, generous spirit and enthusiasm for the project continued.

Initially Menie was going to be part of a wider exhibition theme focusing on social political issues in Aberdeen. But Menie – you get caught up in everything that’s happening, and I couldn’t’ believe this story wasn’t being told. I felt a responsibility to use my exhibition as a way of telling the story from the residents perception and showing what was about to be lost.

That clip of Anthony and Richard’s arrest is a vital document of social history

I couldn’t believe how quickly things were changing in 2010. Some people would say ‘it is just a golf course’ It was difficult for people to comprehend what was really going on.

With Anthony Baxter there filming, there was the comfort of knowing he was documenting an overview of the situation which removed the pressure which I had felt to tell the whole story. It was great to work in parallel with him. The shock hit all of us the day he was arrested – we were afraid that the footage would be lost.

That clip of Anthony and Richard’s arrest is a vital document of social history; it’s unquestionable. I’m glad he was brave enough to record it.

My exhibition, which opened in January 2011, and features in You’ve Been Trumped, contained portraits made in collaboration with the residents accompanied by their statements. I also exhibited 19 landscape photographs depicting the wilderness landscape before it was ‘Trumped’.

When the exhibition opened it was first time ever the residents had positive press locally, nationally and internationally. At the time that was a huge achievement. The residents homes were then under threat of CPO. Trump released at statement during the exhibition claiming he would no longer pursue CPO’s, the residents have yet to see that in writing.

My portraits with Mike, Sheila and Molly Forbes were acquired by the National Galleries of Scotland in February 2011: this was huge as it meant the residents of Menie, who had until then been misrepresented, had secured their place as National treasures but had also been empowered to represent themselves in the process.

You had a run-in with security covered in Duckrabbit blog – it sounds horrible. Do you want to talk about it?

I have frequently been followed by security, stopped by the police in Menie – it shifts your perception of your place in the world.

We knew it wasn’t right – but it still became the norm, something we continually questioned but dealt with. I know how to diffuse things; I know that as individuals they are just people doing a job so I will just have a chat to them. I would always explain that I was doing nature photography.

I know my rights and would never delete an image or show them my photographs. Anthony Baxter got the brunt of their anger. Because I was a young female, and being chatty, they probably thought I was not interested in the politics in the same way Anthony was. It helped having a doric accent too. But my life wasn’t easy.

The scariest incident which I think you are referring to was the most unexpected.

I was in Susan Munro’s garden and well off Trump property. I had a packet of biscuits in one hand and turned round to take a shot.

The next thing a knew an angry security guard was screaming and threatening to smash my camera – he declared that back up was coming. He blocked our route out with his van and, due to the bunds of earth planted by the developers round Susan’s, there would have been no witnesses if he attacked me.

Luckily I escaped unhurt as did my Hasselblad. I called the police and the man was given a full, adult warning. He should have been charged with attempted assault.

In August 2010 when I photographed David Milne for his portrait; he had an angry expression – that’s because there were workers on quad bikes going up and down the dunes. After we left Hermit Point later that evening, the guys on quad bikes followed our car; they went into a field and then pulled right in front of the car on a country road with their lights off. We narrowly escaped a serious crash.

That same summer I’d been spotting and photographing little red flags which kept popping up on the landscape. Mike was worried they would hurt the horse – he called the police and said he’d found all these things on the property – and he was charged with theft of £13 of red flags.

That same day the story ‘Trump opponent charged with theft’ was on the front page of the Evening Express. I saw a copy at the Castlegate newsagent and I was furious.

I wasn’t speaking publicly at that time about what was happening – if I was too vocal at that stage, I wouldn’t have had access to complete the project. It was surreal. Now that my work is in the public domain and the story is out there, it’s easier to talk about.

We discussed theories about how that story got into the press so quickly.

There has been definite sway with the local news which seems to lack compassion for the local residents. I certainly didn’t see any articles about local people harassed by developers. The language is derogatory about the residents calling them ‘protestors’ and ‘Trump opponents’.

One of my achievements was getting a positive story in the Press & Journal the day the Peacock exhibition opened.

What do you think of recent developments at Menie?

The wind farm – I think they’re (Trump) could be looking for an excuse to exit. It doesn’t look like the golf course is going to bring the economic benefits that the Trump would have hoped.

Anthony put it eloquently – Trump says he wants real journalists; but he really wants sycophants. I can’t help but think he’s got a bee in his bonnet about wind farms but it gives him a way to back out of the hotel and the housing development – which is where the money would come from.

It’s bitter sweet seeing nature fighting back as the golf course collapses into the sea. I have concerns about the long term effects of stabilising those sand dunes where meant to be protected. “our equivalent of the Amazon Rain Forrest’ Jim Hansom.

A forest was planted in front of David and Moira Milne’s house in January this year too.. The intimidation is endless.

The last time I visited, a large marquee was being constructed near the clubhouse. David Milne poured us all a glass of champagne and toasted the windfarms.

Tell me about your recent show of the Menie photographs at Holyrood

The Scottish Government were the target audience for this exhibition held during Scottish Environment Week 2013. I wanted the decision makers to come face to face with Mike and Sheila as they entered the chamber. If Alex Salmond could not find the time to go to his constituents’ doorsteps, then I had to bring them to his.

In the run up to the exhibition there was an ongoing dialogue with the parliament’s exhibitions team and a formal application process. I had to find an MSP sponsor months before the show could go ahead, I repeatedly invited Alex Salmond (as the MSP for Menie) to be my sponsor but never received a definite yes.

At the final hour Patrick Harvie, Green MSP and Malcolm Chisholm, my local MSP, jointly supported the exhibition. I am thankful to them for their support.

I chose the entrance to the Member’s Lobby as my exhibition space. MSPs including Alex Salmond have to walk past that area to get to the chamber. Right at the entrance to the chamber I displayed a 30×30 inch print of the golf course collapsing into the sea with the caption:

“The Fourth Tee.

Trump International Golf Links Scotland

Nature fights back.

January 2013″

I thought it was important to get as many people to see that as possible– it was undeniable that that was happening and that the economic benefits of the course were questionable.

I asked Salmond why he had not been to visit Mike and Sheila

Getting the work into parliament was a long process. I had to be security checked and my work scanned which is standard practice. The security forms ask questions like ‘Are you a terrorist?’ There were questions about your parents as well.

Alex Salmond coming to find me; it was a welcome surprise. He described Mike and Molly as “Great characters … great characters. Mike stands up for Scotland.” I pointed out that they are not characters; they are real people.

It was clear that the exhibition really got under Alex Salmond’s skin. I asked Salmond why he had not been to visit Mike and Sheila.

At first he claimed he had been to see them but after I pointed at the image of their house a few times asking again “have you been here, have you been in this house?” he eventually answered “I’ve spoken to them but I’ve not been to the croft… no.” He then said “it’s making lots of money.” I responded, “it’s falling apart. Look!”

MSPs were talking to me all week about the photographs and the current situation in Menie. It was an honour to represent and humanise the situation with Scotland’s decision makers. I was told by one MSP that some would be dreading having it there. I made it clear that the outcome for the exhibition was to draw attention to the need for a public inquiry into the handling of the Trump Development.

David Milne released a petition the week before the show opened.

As well as the large scale printed portraits accompanied by statements and the landscape, I displayed a multimedia work on a 24″ screen. The multimedia contained 20 captioned photographs of the environmental damage caused by the development with detailed captions.

MSPs would stand for long periods of time reading these. The soundtrack was ‘Cover Your Eyes’ a song written by Karine Polwart about the Trump Development.

The exhibition had a high impact, got people talking, hopefully shifted policies and was celebrated in a parliamentary motion stating:

“That the Parliament congratulates the award-winning Aberdeenshire photographer, Alicia Bruce, on her ongoing photography project about Menie, an area of outstanding natural beauty on the Aberdeenshire coast; understands that her photographs from this series have gained international acclaim and have been published in The Times, The Scotsman and several arts magazines, and that two of the portraits have been acquired by the National Galleries of Scotland, and welcomes that Alicia’s photographs, many of which restage compositions from celebrated paintings, have helped to tell the story of the residents of Menie, whose homes came under threat due to what it considers the bullish golf course development of Donald Trump, and to portray a side of that story that otherwise might have gone unheard.”

Motion S4M-05749: Patrick Harvie, Glasgow, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 27/02/2013
Menie Community Photography Project

More from Alicia and her other projects in the next instalment.

All images copyright Alicia Bruce

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Tilting At Windmills

Aberdeen City, Featured, Information 7 Responses »

Apr 182013

By Duncan Harley.

When Donald Trump bought the Menie Estate just outside Aberdeen, he may have thought he could ride roughshod over the people of Scotland and to a great extent it appears that he has so far succeeded.

Depending of course on your viewpoint, an SSSI has been converted into a luxury golf course leaving only a coastal strip of sand dunes as testament to the habitat which had existed on the Aberdeen coastline for thousands of years.

Environmentalist’s arguments seemed to have proved useless against the promise of wealth and jobs in the oil capital of Europe where unemployment runs at only about 2% but where those who make decisions about these things look to a future when “the oil will run out”.

Mr Trump is now challenging Scotland’s renewable energy policy vowing to bring a lawsuit to halt a 230 million pound ($349 million) wind farm development, consisting of 11 wind turbines, planned off the coast near Aberdeen in Scotland.

The output from the offshore scheme is estimated at up to 100MW and over twelve months would be capable of yielding, on average, enough clean, green electricity to power the equivalent of over 68,000 UK households according to Aberdeen Offshore Wind Farm Ltd (AOWFL) – a joint venture between Swedish Energy Company Vattenfall and Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group (AREG), a consortium of local business and university groups.

The National Record Office for Scotland estimated the number of households in the city in 2011 to be 103,843 which makes this groundbreaking scheme an attractive proposition to those who see offshore wind energy as a way forward.

Fergus Ewing, the Scottish energy minister on announcing the go ahead for the scheme told journalists that:

“Offshore renewables represent a huge opportunity for Scotland, an opportunity to build up new industries and to deliver on our ambitious renewable energy and carbon reduction targets. The proposed European offshore wind deployment centre will give the industry the ability to test and demonstrate new technologies in order to accelerate its growth. [It] secures Aberdeen’s place as the energy capital of Europe.”

In response to the announcement of the go ahead by the Scottish Government Donald Trump, head of Trump International Golf Club Scotland Ltd, said:

“We will spend whatever monies are necessary to see to it that these huge and unsightly industrial wind turbines are never constructed,”

The rhetoric seems familiar somehow. Prior to his appearance in front of the Scottish Government Economy Energy and Tourism Committee in 2012 he was quoted as saying that there was not a shred of evidence that turbines benefit the environment. During a press conference following this hearing he told journalists that:

“If Alex Salmond was smart, he would stop right now because what he’s doing to Scotland is terrible. This is the same thing as al-Megrahi, when they let him out of prison because he would die in two weeks. And guess what, he was running around the park last week”

Many Scots were however bemused when in December 2012 a full page advertisement appeared in some regional newspapers featuring an image of a Californian wind farm next to a US freeway and a photo of First Minister Alex Salmond, the suggestion being that these were in some way linked.

The full page advert, dated 14^th December 2012, also appeared to link the Lockerbie terrorist bombing with the Scottish Governments policy on renewable energy and asked “Is this the future for Scotland?” Readers were urged to “Take action. Write, demonstrate and protest Alex Salmond”.

Some suspected left wing anti capitalist rhetoric and others wondered if April 1st had come early.

However on close inspection, tucked away in the corner of the page was an indication that the advert had been placed by a local golf course. Trump International Golf Links Scotland no less!

The full text of the advert reads:

Is this the future for Scotland?
Tourism will suffer and the beauty of your country is in jeopardy!
This is the same mind that backed the release of terrorist al-Megrahi
“for humane reasons” — after he ruthlessly killed 270 people on Pan-Am 103 over Lockerbie.
“Take action. Write, demonstrate and protest Alex Salmond”
Alex.Salmond.msp@scottish.parliament.uk

For many the Lockerbie link was particularly offensive. Not only was the claim that 270 people were killed on Pan-Am 103 over Lockerbie inaccurate, the correct figure is 259 plus the eleven residents of Lockerbie who were killed on the ground, but the use of the tragedy to bolster an argument against renewable energy seemed frankly quite wrong particularly since the anniversary of the 1988 bombing falls on 21^st December just a week after the adverts publication.

Scottish Green MSP Patrick Harvie was quick to label the Trump comments as sick saying:

“Trump has sunk to a new low”

and

“Trump’s organisation has already trashed a unique environment on the coast of Aberdeenshire and trampled on the rights of local people, now he appears to be determined to buy up chunks of the Scottish press.”

Dr Jim Swire, whose daughter Flora died in the 1988 bombing, said the murders had “no place in a confrontation between an entrepreneur who is interested in making money in Scotland and the government”.

This was not the first time the Trump organisation had attracted criticism following the placing of adverts in the Scottish press.

Complaints about a previous advert had been upheld by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) with Trump being warned “not to exaggerate the number of turbines likely to be installed or the possible consequences of the Scottish Governments plans to use wind turbines”.

This followed a regional press advert dated 19^th September 2012 for Communities Against Turbines Scotland, and was headed “Welcome to Scotland!” above a photograph of broken and rusty wind turbines with text stating, “Alex Salmond wants to build 8,750 of these monstrosities – just think about it! Join us in Edinburgh for a march and a rally.”

Inevitably the ASA were again faced with complaints, 21 in all, about the new advertisement.

The grounds for complaint centred around three topics.

That tourism will suffer and the beauty of your country is in jeopardy.
The image of turbines overlooking an American freeway was misleading.
The references to al-Megrahi and the Lockerbie bombing were inappropriate and likely to cause offence.

On point one, despite Trump International’s argument that they had secured clearance from the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) for the advert, the ASA found that the complaint was upheld since the statement that tourism would suffer could not be substantiated. The statement in the advert breached the rules on grounds of misleading advertising and substantiation.

On point two, the ASA considered that the image alongside the claim “tourism will suffer and the beauty of your country is in jeopardy” implied that the wind turbines overlooking an American freeway was representative of a proposed wind farm in Scotland.

In the absence of evidence that this was the case, they upheld the complaint and concluded that it was misleading. The image breached the rules on grounds of misleading advertising and substantiation.

On point three, the ASA considered that the claim “This is the same mind that backed the release of terrorist al-Megrahi “for humane reasons” — after he ruthlessly killed 270 people on Pan-Am 103 over Lockerbie.” drew attention to the Lockerbie bombing in order to comment on Alex Salmond’s policies on renewable energies.

However they considered that readers were likely to find this distasteful rather than offensive and judged that the claim did not breach the advertising standards code.

In conclusion, the Advertising Standards Authority state:

“The ad must not appear again in its current form. We told Trump International Golf Club Scotland Ltd not to make claims unless they could be substantiated with robust evidence and not to use misleading imagery.”

A victory for truth and democracy? Perhaps we shall have to wait and see.

As a footnote, it is noteworthy that the Aberdeen Press and Journal, one of the two Scottish newspapers to publish the Trump advert, carried a follow up news item the day after entitled “Trumps turbines link to Lockerbie ‘sick'”, and quoting the Trump Organisation ex -vice president George Sorial as saying that he had “wanted the content” of the advert “to be much stronger because Scotland is facing an economic and environmental meltdown if wind turbines are not stopped”.

Don Quixote would have been hard put to make sense of it all. Perhaps, however, time is running out for Trump.

Sources

Offshore Turbines Aberdeen Bay: http://www.vattenfall.co.uk/en/aberdeen-bay.htm
Lockerbie Bomb: http://lockerbiecase.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/jim-swire-criticises-donald-trump-over.html
The Trump on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump
Scottish Parliament Trump Submission: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-17837110
and: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/25/donald-trump-appearance-scottish-parliament
Advertising Standards Authority: http://www.asa.org.uk/Rulings/Adjudications/2012/9/The-Trump-Organization-LLC/SHP_ADJ_195478.aspx

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Trump Planning: Aberdeenshire Corrects Its Statement

Aberdeenshire, Featured, Information 6 Responses »

Apr 052013

The twists and turns in the ongoing Trump Scotland saga continue. Campaigners and residents celebrated when they learnt of the recent decision to defer a retrospective planning application the Trump organisation had applied for. An Aberdeenshire council spokesperson contacted Aberdeen Voice with a statement which now has to be retracted, as the spokesperson made an error.

Likewise, Aberdeen Voice’s Suzanne Kelly needs to retract an error: she thought the spokesperson, Gordon Lyon, had retired following a call to Council offices over a year ago. It is time to look at these retractions. Could one of these mistakes actually have the germ of a great idea in it?

Susan Munro Looking Out Of Her Kitchen At A Bund Photo - March 2013

For some reason the Shire’s planning officers recommended retrospective approval be granted to the Trump organisation at Menie – and not for the first time.

An application relating to parking and the bunds by Leyton Cottage sat for some 8 months with no apparent action.

Then towards the end of March, planners changed the application – less than a week before it was suddenly announced the committee would vote on the matter on 26^th March.

An eagle-eyed local campaigner spotted this situation, and lobbying began.

On previous occasions retrospective approval was sought for work already carried out which was contrary to the approved plan – and such permission was normally granted. Against that background residents and campaigners were dismayed when the 8 month-old retrospective application in question was altered (new items were added, and an apparent contradiction was identified) and recommended for approval.

None of those who had formalised their objections were notified of these developments. Most did not hold out much hope there would be anything but approval.

Perhaps it was the lobbying; perhaps the influence of the film ‘you’ve been trumped’; perhaps it was the 18,000-plus petition signatories demanding a government public inquiry – but the Committee deferred their decision.

Campaigners were delighted that commonsense prevailed in this case, even if it was only a deferment; it was still a decision not to take the planning officer’s recommendation to approve. Approval would have meant the bunds blocking light and views to the Munro’s cottage could have stayed put.

These bunds serve absolutely no essential purpose, but have instead changed the family’s quality of life for the worse. Soil and sand blows from it into their property, damaging their plants and blowing into their house. It has even damaged their car engines.

Following the Committee’s decision on 26 March, I received an email from Council spokesperson Gordon Lyon, which I quoted in an article concerning the (welcome) decision of the Formartine Area Committee to defer any decision on the retrospective planning permission it sought at Menie. (The article can be found here; it will soon have a comment retracting the erroneous statement made by Lyon: ).

Gordon Lyon’s email to me read in part:-

“the application was deferred to allow a site visit and a public hearing. (there was no vote – the action was agreed by committee). The date and time of both will be arranged in due course.”

Sadly, part of the happiness at this decision and the Council’s statement above will be short-lived. Mr Lyon emailed me on the morning of 28^th March with this correction:-

“entirely my fault, but there was actually no decision to have a public hearing in relation to Menie – this was in relation to the application for the electricity substation at Blackdog – I was dealing with calls from the BBC and others about that while I was trying to write my email to you, and wrongly typed that in my email.

“The application was deferred for a site visit only. Sincere apologies, it was an error on my part. I hope this doesn’t inconvenience you unduly.”

For the record I can completely sympathise with Mr Lyon. Mistakes do happen (I will apologise for one in this piece in a moment). However, the importance of this correction is such that simply amending an old article which has been superseded is insufficient to ensuring people know that a hearing is not a condition imposed by the Committee.

However: Would it perhaps be a good idea for people to now lobby the Council that this SHOULD be a condition of any further permission?

For the record, David Milne’s petition now has over 18,000 signatories demanding a public inquiry into the entire handling of the Trump golf course. There are many aspects of how this permission to build on the site of two SSSIs, and a paper I wrote outlines some (but not all) of the issues concerned.

It is hoped these issues and many more would be part of the public inquiry, which now seems a certainty due to the strong public feeling and subsequent developments. (My paper can be found here. )

At present only a few campaigners know that the hearing is not a condition imposed by the Formartine Committee prior to granting the retrospective permission desired.

However, the campaigners I did manage to speak to believe strongly that with all that has happened and with public feeling being what it is, it would only be prudent, fair and reasonable to now lobby for a public hearing and an inquiry to come before any further planning permission is granted.

What is impossible to understand is why retrospective planning should be needed in the first place, let alone be granted.

Historically, the Aberdeenshire council’s spokesperson Gordon Lyon assured me that the approved plan was being adhered to, writing this in August 2011:-

“This development is well-scrutinised and the approved plans are being adhered to“.

“Site inspections are undertaken on a weekly basis by various organisations to ensure that the development is being carried out according to the planning permission granted.”

It soon became apparent to me that deviation was taking place on several occasions – everything from the size of the road sign to the use of culverts instead of bridges, and of course the parking lot, temporary clubhouse and the bunds – all arguably were not as per the agreed plan.

I did try to get clarification; I am still trying. Initially I phoned the Council some months after receiving the assurances, but I was told over the phone that their spokesperson, Gordon Lyon, had ‘gone’. I tried to find out more; a local told me that Lyon had retired. I assumed this was the case, as he had gone. I then simply started doing my own research.

I am more than happy to offer my apology to Mr Lyon and the Shire Council; I accept that he has not retired, and I apologise for any inconvenience caused to him, the Shire Council or his family.

Mistakes do happen. Gordon Lyon’s made one; I’ve made some. Perhaps turning the Menie Estate over for development in the first place was the biggest error of all.

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A Big Tint

Aberdeenshire, Creative Writing No Responses »

Mar 282013

By Bob Smith.

Trumpie a see, wints tae hae a marquee
Plunkit richt in the middle o Menie
Haudin waddins an sic, fer ony rich prick
Fit am sure wull cost a fair penny

A marquee’s jist a name, fer a big tint on a frame
Far monied fowk can spik tae their pallies
Wull Trump be mine host, as pigs they div roast
An doon champers in a couple o swallies

Fae tap o marquee, flags ye micht see
Blawin stracht oot in the win
As sum drunken plunkers, faa intae the bunkers
Iss thocht it fair maks me grin

Nae doot Trump wull say, in his loodest bray
It’s the “Greatest Marquee in the Warld”
Fer the openin evint, invites wull be sint
As the Trump flags are infurled

Nae invite ye’ll see, tae the likes o me
Onywye a wid hae tae refuse
Local press wull be keen, tae mak sure they’re seen
So’s they hae the odd gin as they newse

As fowk dee a jig, fin samplin the pig
An lood music ower the dunes it is blarin
Wull oor boys in blue, stop the hullaballoo
Or micht they Trump badges be wearin

Bob Smith “The Poetry Mannie” 2013

A’bund’ance Of Trouble: Trump Plans Changed & Rushed?

Aberdeenshire, Featured, Information 12 Responses »

Mar 212013

By Suzanne Kelly.

An eight-month old application for retrospective permission at Trump Golf Links International at Menie has suddenly been altered with no warning or publicity.

A new document was added earlier this week to the retrospective App 2012/2342, and after eight months of relative inaction, the application which would allow the bunds to stay put is now going to be decided by the relevant councillors: on Tuesday 26 March.

The very short lead time – less than a week – between the changes to the application made on the Council’s web page means little chance for meaningful consideration – and the people who made representations have not heard anything about the changes or the upcoming meeting.

These developments may well be against protocol.

How this happened, who was involved, and the legalities of the situation are being questioned by residents and campaigners. Arguably, the application if changed should be re-submitted, allowing people the chance to respond to the new document, and those who made a representation should have been informed of the changes and the meeting.

These bunds – which seem to serve no purpose but to make life difficult for those living close to them – should just be taken down as originally promised.

They block light, they block views, and crucially the wind has blown earth off of them into the Munro home, at times leaving an inch of sand and dirt inside the front door, and damaged her cars, with sand and dirt getting into the machinery. The bunds have arguably devalued the Munro property.

Aberdeenshire Council’s Planning Department, already one of the targets for a requested independent inquiry (15,000+ people have signed a petition so far), had previously given assurances that the bunds (steep, high mounds of earth) built around residents’ homes were temporary. This assurance was repeated in an email from now-retired Aberdeenshire officer, Gordon Lyon in May 2012.

So far, the Trump Golf Links International Scotland operators have deviated from approved planning permission with the bunds, parking lot, and other issues: all of these deviations received retrospective planning permission.
See: Menie Estate Report by Suzanne Kelly

Why the developer is going against the approved plans without any challenge by Aberdeenshire Planning officials, is unclear.

Planning were supposed to visit the site frequently to prevent issues such as deviations arising.

The Government Report on the development recommended the developer would be expected to stay to the approved plan, and that monitoring would take place for planning and environment compliance.

This hardly seems to be the case with the bunds, parking and other deviations, and MEMAG, the environmental monitoring group is not meeting (last posted meeting minutes are for June 2012) and not answering correspondence (no questions answered from a 26 January email to date).

A resident, who discovered the changes on Aberdeenshire’s planning website this week, made the following observations:-

“As well as an amended drawing of the small bund (and change of title so that it no longer mentions Leyton Cottage), there is now a completely new drawing called ‘LANDSCAPE PROPOSALS – AS BUILT EARTH BUND ADJACENT TO DRIVING RANGE’ which details the ‘big bund’ immediately south of Leyton Cottage and adjacent to the Access Road.

“As far as I know there has been no public notification of this expansion of scope. And there appears to have been no notification to the people who had previously submitted objections to the original content of this application (the author of these comments received no notification himself).

“The ‘Expiry Date for Public Comment’ is still shown as 16/08/2012- and ‘The time period for submitting comment has expired’.

“When the bunds first appeared back in October 2010, the Council’s enforcement officer at the time, Gerry Main, wrote: ‘The mound of sand to the south of Leyton Cottage is of a temporary nature and will be utilised.’

“Furthermore, the APP-2012-2342 web page now shows a ‘Committee Date’ of 26/03/2013 (next Tuesday) when the application will come before the Formartine Area Committee. ( See: http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/committees )

“As is normal practice, the planners have prepared a report to the Area Committee. It was posted there sometime in the past 24 hours (it wasn’t there yesterday morning). The report recommends that permission is granted, subject to removal of the trees planted on top of the small bund.

“Strangely, the report states in para 6.7 that ‘With reference to comments made through representation that have not been taken into account in the above assessment, this application is solely for the car park area and not for the landscaping for the access way’. This needs clarifying as it is inconsistent with the fact that the ‘big bund’ drawing has been published on the planning page, which the report appears to overlook completely.

“Also the ‘Additional Document 1’ presented to the committee is drawing no 71236/8007 Issue D and includes contour detail of the lower section of the ‘big bund’, whereas the version of this same drawing on the planning page (as of last night) was only at Issue B and had no detail of the big bund.

The writer of these comments feels that:-

“this looks suspiciously like TIGLS and the planners attempting to sneak through retrospective planning consent for the highly controversial and unauthorised ‘big bund’ hoping that no-one will notice, and without allowing public comment”

The following questions have been asked of Anne Ramsay of Planning:-

1. Have new documents been added to this application as it appears? IF SO:

2. Who agreed to add these documents?

3. How has this information been conveyed to interested parties and those who sent in representations?

4. Who made the decision not to throw this amended application out and start with a new application reflecting the changes?

5. Is Aberdeenshire Planning confident it is proceeding in a legally-acceptable, transparent manner in this instance?

6. Why, after an 8 month wait, is a newly amended application to be determined with under a week for council members and stakeholders to digest?

7. In due course, please send a response to the resident’s concerns listed above.

If the answer to Question 1 is negative, then:-

a. Please explain the appearance of new documents on the application?

b. Have stakeholders/those making representations been advised the matter will be discussed this Tuesday?

The response received will be printed as soon as can be arranged.

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Menie Estate: Time To Help

Aberdeenshire, Featured, Information 2 Responses »

Mar 212013

Following publication of an in-depth report into many failings and misuse of powers at the Menie Estate, Suzanne Kelly responds to those who have been asking what they can do to help.

What chance have we got to right things at the Menie Estate for the residents, visitors and wildlife?

People have been asking by email and Facebook what they can do to help the situation at Menie in some way.

It seems daunting if not impossible: Scotland’s First Minister, the local press, a majority of Aberdeenshire politicians, Grampian Police, VisitScotland and Scottish Enterprise all lent their assistance to a billionaire international real estate developer.

What chance does the average person in the street, unhappy at what is going on, have to change things?

More than you might think is the answer.

The report I wrote was never meant to be an end in itself; it is a tool which I hope people will use to complain and campaign. Trump might (or might not) be a billionaire with great connections, but there are thousands in Scotland and thousands more around the world who are watching what is going on, thanks largely to Anthony Baxter’s documentary, ‘you’ve been trumped.’

First, there is the question of ‘why bother to fight’.

Some people can’t see why I’m investing my time and energies into what is happening at Menie; for me I don’t really see any alternative but to do so.

This is a pivotal point in so many ways – in terms of what environmental protection means, in terms of how the police enforce or don’t enforce the law, how our politicians carry out their duties (are they more interested in the needs of businessmen or those who elected them). The environmental issues are very important, but the human aspect of what is going on is paramount.

Molly Forbes, Michael Forbes, Susan Munro, David Milne, Rob Menlove and their families – we can’t let people be shunted aside and abused, their rights and legal protection eroded.

Many of us are concerned with human rights abroad. We can’t ignore them being eroded our own doorstep. These issues have been allowed to go unchecked in our local print media; and this has contributed to the sense of invulnerability visible from security guard to politician.

It is time to go forward and protect the environment robustly, to ensure the rights of the residents and visitors are upheld, and to ensure nothing like this ever happens here again. Here are some simple things you can do to help.

1. Sign the 38 Degrees Petition started by David Milne

This petition requests a public inquiry into events concerning the golf development; it has been presented to Holyrood, and will at some point go before a petitions committee, and then (if there is any justice) before government. There are over 14,000 signatures – but the more the better. UK residents can sign; more information and a link to it can be found here: https://aberdeenvoice.com/2013/02/david-milne-launches-menie-estate-inquiry-petition/

2. Live in Scotland? Write to your Councillor

If you live in Aberdeenshire, you can find your local area councillors and their email addresses on this website: http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/councillors/contact/index.asp . Explain that you want a public inquiry; send them a link to my report if you like, or tell them what particularly bothers you about what’s happening at Menie. Ask them how they voted. Tell them this issue will influence how you vote in future. Ask them to follow up with Aberdeenshire planning department, outdoor access officers, etc.

3. Write to MSPs, MPs or MEPs.

If you’re in Scotland, you can find out who your MSP is at this link: http://www.writetothem.com/ As above, tell them what you think, that you are concerned about EU Human rights, EU environmental protection, and whatever other aspects concern you.

4. ‘you’ve been trumped’

Anthony Baxter had to mortgage his home to make this documentary; he was thrown in jail while filming it along with his partner Richard Phinney. The ‘you’ve been trumped’ website has further information, including details of how to buy a copy of the DVD. http://www.youvebeentrumped.com/youvebeentrumped.com/THE_MOVIE.html

5. Other Actions

There is also a ‘Take Action’ section on the ‘you’ve been trumped’ site – it lets you know how to contact the police, the people in planning and the residents. Every postcard or email reminds the people in power that this issue is not going away; every contact with the residents lets them know they are not forgotten. Access this page here: http://www.youvebeentrumped.com/youvebeentrumped.com/TAKE_ACTION.html

6. Tripping Up Trump

Campaign group TUT has lots of information and initiatives. Their website can be found here: http://www.trippinguptrump.com/ There are back news items, links, and many resources. As their website says:-

“TUT is committed to supporting the rights of the families at Menie and will highlight and seek to stop any further bullying or other wrongs by the Trump Organisation in Scotland.”

Taking just 10 minutes out to find your elected representatives and writing to them can have more impact than you think. The more people that write, the more likely the politicians are to remember they rely on our votes. If you get any responses, please feel free to share them with Aberdeen Voice.

Just a final word: the residents have throughout their trials stayed within the law. They do not resort to vandalism or threats; they do not damage the environment, and they obey the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. Things can change for the better in this situation, and the more people who take action, the more certain positive change becomes.

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Support Continues For Tennis Star Bruce

Aberdeen City, Sport No Responses »

Mar 212013

The Paul Lawrie Foundation and David Lloyd Leisure are the latest organisations to assist teenage tennis star Bruce Strachan in his bid to forge a full time career as a professional player.

With thanks to Dave Macdermid.

Bruce Strachan, the 18 year old Aberdonian tennis player who trains full time at Stirling University, has received financial support from the Paul Lawrie Foundation which also donated auction items for a recent fundraising dinner, hosted by David Lloyd Aberdeen, which raised over £7,000.

David Lloyd Leisure has also granted Bruce use of the facilities at all of its leisure complexes throughout the United Kingdom while, in the north east, various individuals and organisations have assisted to help him with equipment, training, subsistence and tournament entry fees.

Bruce, who has been the North East Open men’s singles champion for the past two years, is currently in the middle of a hectic competition schedule featuring AEGON British tour and ITF Futures events, with a couple of events on mainland Europe planned for later in the spring.

Menie Estate Report Published By Suzanne Kelly

Environment, Featured, News 6 Responses »

Mar 152013

Since Donald Trump first applied for planning permission to build ‘the world’s greatest golf course’ on the Menie Estate, regular Aberdeen Voice contributor Suzanne Kelly has followed events closely.

Today Ms Kelly publishes a report on the Menie Estate outlining eleven major areas of concern. In each of those areas, various incidents, documents and decisions are examined, and recommendations made.

The yola web page will also have relevant links to Tripping Up Trump, the documentary You’ve Been Trumped, a petition calling for an inquiry, and more.

Kelly says,

“Putting aside my own personal feelings for the ostentatious Donald Trump, I could not understand why the idea of overturning the SSSI protection afforded to the dune system at Menie to allow construction of a golf course and housing complex – particularly with the housing needed to fund the golf course – got the go-ahead. Like thousands of others, I wrote to Aberdeenshire Council to voice my objections.

“Learning that the course would go ahead was disappointing, but seeing how the environment, people and due processes were treated was staggering. I decided to collect together most of the worrying aspects of events at Menie with the goal of having relevant regulatory bodies, both public and private sector, investigate. What is going on here must not be allowed to set any precedents, and I believe some people and institutions should be called to account.

“It is wonderful that David Milne’s petition for an inquiry has over 14000 signatures to date. Milne and the petitioners are asking the Scottish Parliament, through the Public Petitions Committee, to hold a public inquiry into the way local government, Scottish Ministers and other relevant public bodies conducted themselves when considering the Menie project.

“The Trump camp continually asserts that this was the most scrutinised application in Scotland, but the reality of the situation is that a range of past and present actions have escaped any meaningful scrutiny whatsoever.”

The petition, at http://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/public-inquiry-into-handling-of-the-trump-resort is still gathering signatures.

“I believe that some QUANGOs, private entities, and environmental bodies must be called to account for their actions – or inactions – regarding this development. The Government, Aberdeenshire Council Planning, and Grampian Police in particular, feature prominently in my report.”

Kelly’s report will be sent to a range of stakeholders, regulatory bodies and to the national media in the coming days. Advance copies have been sent by request to researchers.

“I think it’s time to take off the rose-coloured glasses. Are we really getting thousands of jobs and great economic and social benefits out of this scheme? How much have we paid for policing the area so far? One cancelled Trump visit to our area alone cost the police around £2000.

“Let’s re-evaluate the optimistic projections on which this castle in the sand is being built. Trump is forever threatening to leave if we build wind farms. Perhaps our institutions should take a similarly-assertive position in forcing the Trump Organisation to stick to approved plans without deviation. I heartily welcome reactions from those institutions and individuals mentioned in my report.”

Kelly has previously submitted a series of articles for publication in Aberdeen Voice highlighting a range of aspects of Trump International’s operations at Menie, from the collapse of a culvert on the course to the marriage of Trump’s Vice-President Sarah Malone to Press & Journal editor, Damian Bates.

“The relationship between the pair just might explain the P&J’s stance on this development, which certainly has not harmed Sarah Malone’s position with Trump. This relationship, and any financial implications arising from it, might be a matter for Aberdeen Journals Ltd, if not the Press Complaints Commission, to investigate.

“I have met such wonderful people from visiting the estate and from attending screenings of You’ve Been Trumped, that I felt it necessary to try to help somehow. I just hope some good may come from my report.”

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Golfers Urged To Keep Charity’s Family Centre Running

Aberdeen City, Sport No Responses »

Mar 142013

With thanks to Claire McBain.

Pro-Am 2012 L-R Gordon Hutcheon, VSA Chair of Trustees Maggie Wilson, Alex McLeish, VSA Chief Executive Kenneth Simpson

N.E. charity VSA, with principal sponsors Brewin Dolphin and Munro’s Travel Group, and Golfers Scotland have launched the 2013 VSA Tartan Pro-Am golf day, encouraging local businesspeople to sign up for a day of golf and entertainment that will keep VSA’s desperately needed Family Contact Centre – the only one of its kind in Aberdeen – running.

The VSA Tartan Pro-Am, part of the PGA Professional Tartan Tour, will take place on Thursday 15 August at Aboyne Golf Course, followed by a prize giving dinner at The Marcliffe.

Anna Garden, general manager of VSA’s Children and Family Services, said:

“Our Family Contact Centre is a volunteer-run facility where children from separated families can spend valuable time with the mum or dad who no longer lives with them. Just think what that would mean to a child. And for parents, it means they don’t have to meet, so there’s less chance of hostility in front of the children. It’s actually a really happy environment to be in.”

Bruce Angus, divisional director for Brewin Dolphin Aberdeen, said:

“The Family Contact Centre is an amazing local facility. But it depends entirely on voluntary income. It’s thanks to the success of fundraising events like the Pro-Am, and the enthusiastic, generous local people who attend, that VSA can continue to provide much needed facilities like this in the north-east.”

Murray Burnett, managing partner at Munro’s Travel Group, said:

“The Pro-Am is an opportunity to be part of a fantastic golf day and entertaining evening but more importantly, in supporting the event you are playing your part in helping the VSA bring vital assistance to families across AberdeenCity and Shire. The charity and the Family Contact Centre in particular provide an invaluable service to the local community and we are delighted that through our participation in the event we are able to help ensure that VSA can continue to carry out its outstanding work.”

Former footballer Alex McLeish attended last year’s event:

“The atmosphere was brilliant and the course was in excellent condition. The prize giving and fundraising dinner was a great end to a fun-filled day. The entertainment was second-to-none and a welcome change from your usual after dinner speakers. I’m already practicing my swing for this year.”

Debbie Fotheringham, events co-ordinator at VSA, said:

“As well as supporting a really important cause close to home, the Pro-Am is a great opportunity for companies to treat clients and staff. I’ve re-launched the corporate sponsorships this year, with an extended range of cost-effective ways to get involved. It’s the perfect way to promote your brand to some key north-east businesspeople.”

For more information about VSA’s Tartan Pro-Am, or to book a place at the golf, dinner or both, contact Debbie Fotheringham on 01224 358617 or e-mail debbie.fotheringham@vsa.org.uk

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