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ABERDEEN (Scotland) — US tycoon Donald Trump insisted his project to build a luxury golf course in Scotland will go ahead, despite a bid to block it by opponents buying land at the heart of the site.
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ABERDEEN (Scotland) — US tycoon Donald Trump insisted his project to build a luxury golf course in Scotland will go ahead, despite a bid to block it by opponents buying land at the heart of the site.
Trump said he was determined to create the "greatest golf course in the world" after flying into Scotland on Wednesday to view progress on the site on the Aberdeenshire coast.
"This will be a masterpiece when it's completed. As with many of my projects, when it's completed I think that everybody in this room and more importantly all of Aberdeen and all of Scotland will say thank you," he said.
Defensive action
But opponents of the £750 million (1.1 billion dollar, 1.2 billion euro) project said they have acquired a one-acre stretch of land in the middle of the resort site, which includes protected sand dunes.
Sue Edwards, of the Tripping Up Trump campaign group which protested as the tycoon arrived in Aberdeen, said: "You cannot just walk over the homeowners on the estate. These are people who have lived in their homes for years."
Local resident Michael Forbes, who has refused to sell his home, said: "The Tripping Up Trump campaign has now acquired land at Mill of Menie to defend the homes under threat of compulsory purchase.
"The Trump Organisation will now have to deal with many more objectors than they anticipated."
Trump struck back, describing Forbes' property as resembling a "slum".
Trump card
"I just wish he would clean up his property, it is a pigsty. It's terrible, his barn is all rusty and falling down.
"The hotel has the chance to be something really outstanding but it's awfully hard when a window is overlooking a slum and you see rusting oil cans."
Trump said his organisation had not yet decided whether it would build the hotel if Forbes refused to sell.
The masterplan for the resort, published this year, will be considered by Aberdeenshire Council later in the year. Councillors have refused to rule out using compulsory purchase orders to remove residents from the land. — AFPblog comments powered by Disqus
EVERY Monday, GolfMirror brings you lessons from pro Dean Harman who is the Director of Golf Instruction at the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club Academy. Don't miss his weekly golf tips.
