Walking at Balmedie

Want to trump Trump?

Anyone happening to stumble across this and who read the previous post may want to take some decisive action. Well, as I mentioned, Donald Trump’s application has been pulled-in by the Scottish Government and it is up to the Finance and Sustainable Growth (ha!) Minister, John Swinney, to decide what to do next.

Anyone wishing to write will have to explain articulately why they do not believe the plans to be a good idea because ranting and raving about the environment will not win any favours or open ears. The key is to tackle the assumptions of economic success. Here are some suggestions, though I am by no means an expert lobbyist! The fact that Donald Trump has a variable track-record with his business successes should be mentioned. Also, that the huge 1500 property development will cause fluctuations in the property market, strains on local resources (NHS etc) and will threaten local businesses should also be presumed in equal measure to the overly positive image that is being projected by Trump’s team and the SNP. Indeed, such undertakings require careful thought. Too many golf courses in one area causes huge problems – the luxury golf resort of Fairmont near St Andrews appears to be in some financial difficulty at the moment, for example.

Trump’s attitude should also be questioned – if he cares so much about building his resort in Aberdeenshire, why isn’t he appealing the decision and why is he threatening to take the plans elsewhere (of course we know why!)? Furthermore, he has a haphazard approach to his golf resorts. He recently said of a plan in New Jersey to build two golf courses and 2000 residences, “I’d rather do one great championship course than two mediocre or lesser ones.” (New Jersey.com) What does this say about his Aberdeenshire plans? This guy doesn’t care about Aberdeenshire! He just knows how to make a pretty penny – build lots of properties quickly and sell them off equally fast so as not to muddy your hands. Leave the locals to deal with any financial difficulties. The swine.

Some facts and figures:

• Balmedie Beach is the second most-visited tourist attraction in Aberdeenshire (source: Visit Scotland) – attesting to the popularity of Scotland’s untouched “great outdoors”
• Aberdeenshire has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the UK at 0.9% – lower than those of the golf “hotspots” Fife and Perth and Kinross.
• Balmedie Beach is ranked in the Top 5 UK sand dune systems – Trump’s plans to “stabilise” the dunes will permanently affect the coastline detrimentally.
• Sand dunes are vital as sea defences – the 1953 North Sea Flood saw thousands killed when the sea level rose above 5 metres. Rising sea levels due to climate change will only worsen such tragic occurrences and we need to work with nature, rather than against her, or we will have our noses bloodied.
• Part of the Menie Estate is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and harbours an important ecosystem.
• Despite what they say GOLF COURSES ARE NOT ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY! Their upkeep requires vast amounts of pesticide and chemical fertiliser use and the areas of pristine green fairways may as well be deserts.

It is important to ask questions such as:

• How will the project affect local businesses?
• How many jobs in the current tourist industry will be affected?
• How many jobs will there be?
• What proportion of the jobs will go to local people?
• How long-term will the jobs be?
• Will the long term opportunities created by these new jobs improve the long term prospects for local people?

Also, you should question the handling and legitimacy of the case by the Scottish government. For example, Donald Trump had every right to appeal – if he had done so, correct procedure could have been followed; Councillor Martin Ford’s sacking sends out a terrible message to future Chairmen and he was simply doing what any Chairman would have done in his position; the meetings and wining and dining of members of the SNP with Trump stinks of sleaze.

Lastly, the whole case should be analysed by a Public Inquiry and a proper Environmental Impact Assessment should be made before approving any plans. You should also call for positive action – that Scotland would be better served in the future by a programme of Sustainable Development and that Trump’s resort is no solution to the inevitable downfall of Aberdeen’s Oil Industry. We are already at peak oil and the issue in the future will not be about how many jobs and tourist attractions we have in an area, but whether we will be able to feed and support ourselves sustainably. As the situation now stands, we are ill-equipped to deal with any threats to the oil industry.

So, please email your local MSPs and John Swinney.

John.Swinney.msp@scottish.parliament.uk

Or write to:
Public Information Service
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Scotland

If you are not from Scotland mention how important Scotland’s natural heritage is for attracting tourists.

But please also spread the word. This is a simple issue that has gone hysterical – the effect on the economy will either be neutral or disastrous. What is really at stake is a unique area that cannot be replaced once tonnes of concrete are poured all over it. But also Scottish pride! We don’t want Trump to make fools of us while he laughs his way to the bank, do we?!

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