Council accused over Trump school sponsorship
February 23, 2010 by Guest Writer · 59 Comments
Donald Trump. Picture: David Shankbone
The US property tycoon has helped pay for a football strip bearing his name and a climbing wall for Balmedie school. The school is near where he plans to build his controversial £1 billion golf, hotel and housing resort.
Mr Trump has also involved children from the school in planting grass on the sand dunes where the proposed golf course is sited. This is despite claims from environmentalists that the grass will ruin the dunes.
“I’m very angry that well-intentioned young people and teachers have been misused for a publicity stunt for the Trump Organisation,” said the Green MSP, Robin Harper.
“If Aberdeenshire Council didn’t realise what they were doing they should be ashamed of themselves, but they have been engaged in this controversy long enough to know that this should not have been done.”
The council’s policy on commercial sponsorship says that deals will only be entered into “if the benefits to consumers and/or the public outweigh the costs”. The association between the council and the sponsoring company must be “responsible” and agreements must be in writing.
But according to the leading anti-Trump councillor, Martin Ford, these criteria had not been met. “The issue here is whether the council is exercising appropriate control in accordance with its own policies – or whether, once again, the rules are simply not being applied to this particular property developer.”
Ford accused the Trump Organisation of seeking to get good local publicity before it tried to force people from their homes. A request for Aberdeenshire Council to consider using compulsory purchase powers to evict four families in the way of the development remains “on the table”.
Last week, the Trump Organisation published its detailed plans for what it described as “the world’s greatest golf course”. The artist impressions of the development made it look like the homes had disappeared.
Balmedie primary school was given £1,000 by the Trump Organisation towards new strips for its football team in November. The school’s team of children aged 10-12 plays in the Aberdeen schools league second division wearing blue shirts saying “Trump International Scotland”.
Last month, children from the school also took part in a publicity event set up by the Trump Organisation to plant marram grass at the Menie estate where the golf course is planned. This was despite evidence that such planting could damage the site’s unique mobile sand dunes.
The campaign group Tripping Up Trump has written to Aberdeenshire Council’s chief executive, Colin Mackenzie, alleging that Trump’s sponsorship breaches council policy. “This is sadly a cynical attempt to improve his image by using a local school,” said the group’s co-ordinator, Martin Glegg.
“The council has a duty to the children in its care and to prevent them being exploited for commercial purposes. We do not believe the council is carrying out this duty effectively.”
Aberdeenshire Council, however, insisted that the funding of the football kits was in line with the council’s guidance. “A number of schools across Aberdeenshire have developed links with businesses and facilities in their communities, and these are all brought forward with the best interests of pupils in mind,” said a council spokesman.
“It would be a shame to deny the pupils at Balmedie similar opportunities on this occasion simply because of media interest in the developer.”
The Trump Organisation did not respond to a request for comment. But the group’s executive vice president in Scotland, Sarah Malone, has earlier defended the grass-planting at the golf course site.
“Given that this development will one day provide employment and recreational opportunities for the next generation, this type of activity will help create a greater sense of ownership and interest amongst the young,” she said. “We look forward to working with Balmedie school on a range of activities throughout the development of the project.”
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So what is the result of Trump’s sponsorship.
Kids get School Football strips
Kids get a day out thinking about nature.
Martin Ford and all his tree hugging retired southern friends who moved up north for the good life could not care about the economy of the area. If we want to maintain populations in the countryside we must have economic activity.
Trump is not building a big stinking factory pumping chemicals or nuclear waste. He is making a Golf course.
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So, the alternative is to say “thanks but no thanks” for the offer of Sports kit and a wee day out on the Menie Estate?
Just when you think it impossible for politicians to be any more puerile!!!
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“Tripping up Trump”Rob Edwards do a search about this lot as the Press and Journal did and you might come to the same conclusion that they have done which is that they will not be used for their propaganda,Martin Ford was also against the Aberdeen by-pass if he is that against the school getting a £1000 maybe he can ask them to give it back and he will reimburse them
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Who are these people?
Was there not a settled will of the council to proceed in a certain way?
Does every Tom , Dick and Harry get the chance to take a pot shot at inward investment that does’nt suit them?
When are the next council elections in Aberdeenshire?
I intend following them with great interest.
No doubt the BBBC will do its usual and allow air time to Mr Ford et al!
They can all bleat together!
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HO HUM Tom Hunter does this with Scottish schools (has been doing for the last three years) enterprise money and money for the CfE so the problem is?????
I have just spoken to the HT of a local PS and she said yes please how much can you give me?!!!!!
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Of course it is an absolute disgrace that the Trump organisation is manipulating schoolchildren this way, involving them in something as destructive as his marram grass planting, then claiming to teach them about the environment. Thank heavens that an MSP is seeing the larger picture here.
Anyone who talks about ‘tree hugging’ and ‘tree huggers’ really shouldn’t be treated seriously. This is part of the problem, that ‘local’ debate is of this low level.
Trump’s golf course is environmentally destructive. It’s not only a golf course, (two actually) but a massive development sitting slongside it, some of it planned for land not owned by Trump.
What a strange sort of world we live in when some think all this morally acceptable.
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Serial objectors like Martin Ford would object to any thing if it interfered with their idyllic ambitions for Scotland. What Ford and his gang of middle class RSPB, and Scottish National Heritage chums want is a personal club where they can wander freely over hill and dale without seeing the hand of mankind. For to many years Scotland has been preserved in this way by rich landowners from the South. The large shooting estates preserved in Victorian aspic, the summer homes of the Eton set.
There is not one shred of evidence to support claims that this development will be “environmentally destructive,” quite the reverse will be true.
If someone tried to build the Golf complex such as we see in Gleneagles today there would be the shrieking and gnashing of teeth from these people that the sky will come down and plagues of frogs would be hopping through Auchterarder. Gleneagles is a haven for wildlife and is kept that way with environmentally friendly estate management. It brings in a lot of trade to that part of Perthshire and many land ladies and landlords thank their lucky stars it is there. Many local people have work that they would not have if it were preserved in Victorian aspic as Ford would want.
Development is sorely needed in many parts of Scotland. The Balmedie area is one of them. This development will benefit a lot of local business people, the kind of people whose voice gets drowned out with the braying of Ford and his gang. Many people support this development. This has become a personal crusade from the rejected and failed councillor Ford. He really needs to take a good look at himself.
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Yes, planting grass, an obvious moral outrage….and so is building a links golf course and some houses next to the seaside, such a thing is clearly unimaginable in Scotland…
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Good for the Trump!
The objections to this Golf Course are unbelievable.
If Trump was proposing to bury Nuclear Waste underneath the 16th Fairway, then I could understand the level of objections and objectionable.
This is good inward investment and Scotland wants more – much more.
If South Harris had got its superquarry 20 years ago, then it might not be having to close its schools now.
People first!
Slainte Mhor
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‘Last month, children from the school also took part in a publicity event set up by the Trump Organisation to plant marram grass at the Menie estate where the golf course is planned. This was despite evidence that such planting could damage the site’s unique mobile sand dunes’
Then perhaps Mr Harper and Mr Ford need to take it up with the Aberdeen Formartine Area Committee who gave the recommendation in the first place rather than continue their personal vendetta against Donald Trump.
28th October 2009
‘The Formartine Area Committee approved preparatory work including the planting of marram grass on the dunes at Menie, near Balmedie’
‘The shifting dunes, which will not be used as part of the golf course, are to be stabilised.’
see – tinyurl.com/ydbgl4j
And further there is additional support here.
“Local resident and former chairman of Keep Grampian Beautiful, Paul Miller, who has a life-time of experience of caring for Aberdeenshire’s coastline and marram grass planting, will also share his knowledge and experience with the school children.”
In response to the partnership with Balmedie School and Trump International, Mr Miller said “The preservation of the region’s sand dunes has been my passion for over 40 years and I’m delighted to see the younger generation gaining hands-on experience and learning about the natural environment.”
“Following the tradition of hand-sprigging marram grass – a process that has been used by local people for generations – Balmedie school children will gain practical experience of this time-proven technique as they learn about their environment and local heritage.
Allison Conner, deputy head teacher, Balmedie Primary School said: “The children are being taught to hand sprig the grass which is an age old tradition that crofters used to employ in days gone by.”
see – tinyurl.com/ybu2ykk
Unless Mr Harper and Mr Ford have anything close to ‘40 years’ of passion and indeed experience in ‘The preservation of the region’s sand dunes’ then it sounds like they should stick to whatever happens to be their area of expertize. In the case of Mr Ford I do not recall reading anything that comes close to any level of expert knowledge that is worthy of comment.
A lot of this strikes as parochial NIMBYism. Scotland is being given an opportunity of an investment of 100’s of millions in a spectacular golf course which many other countries would more than gladly accept. Scotland should be embracing its massive international diaspora rather than trying to humiliate it. Donald Trump does not have some distant Scottish roots here, his mother was born and brought up on Lewis from a long line of proud Hebrideans. The Scottish diaspora is massive and largely untapped resource with enormous talent, experience, money and a passion for their Scottish roots. To turn our backs on them with contempt is not only economic stupidity but it lacks basic Scottish courtesy and decency.
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Good for you Traquir – good piece of research.
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Sure, it is a bribe. He coughs up £1000 which is peanuts to him and gets some people to view him in a more favourable light. The kids benefit too. It is business to him. Businesses do this all the time. They invite prospective customers out to slap up dinners, and maybe a bottle of malt at New Year, thank you very much. These things have some influence but not a lot if the prospective deal is not sound.
Take oil companies chucking money at renewables to look “green” and be nice and cuddly. Then they whizz off to fresh places to bore for more oil. Basically they couldn’t care less about renewables. Renewables are not what they deal in. It’s called public relations.
Trump’s gesture is OK by me. He is developing public relations. Take his money. Just be aware what it is.
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You could not make this up. Is Trump the first business man in Scotland to donate sports kit to a school, no, will he be the last, no.
As various poster have said “you would think he was building a chemicals factory, or burying asbestos waste under the fairway.
I have no objection to people coming to settle in Scotland, but if you want the “home counties” stay there. Do not try to turn Scotland into your vision of utopia. Most of us have lived here all our lives and it suits us just fine thank you.
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The shifting dunes are why this is a SSSI. ‘Stabilising’ them will ruin them. This isn’t anything to do with crofting.
Such a shame that the demonising of Martin Ford is carrying on here, and that the ill-informed are cutting and pasting spurious nonsense from elsewhere.
Involving children in his tawdry bribes is a step too far.
Has Trump invested anything like millions so far? He usually spends the cash of others, not his own, and how ’spectacular’ the golf course (and massive over-development) will be is is not yet proven.
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What I actually meant to note was that local businesses sponsoring schools football strips is completely normal, and a good thing. Lots of Aberdeen schools teams sport all sorts of company names, and everyone ignores them cheerfully…so what?
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I thought that this sponsorshp was common practice in the Westminster village. What’s so different between ‘Cash for Questions’ and ‘Cash for Schools’ apart from the fact that the latter actually benefits people who are short of cash due to the actions of the former who have been lining their pockets at our expense for years, until they were found out.
My only gripe with Mr Trump’s development is that, to my mind, there are too many houses involved for the infrastucture. The golf course is an excellent use of a wonderfully varied lanscape which will still protect it. If they don’t believe this, Messrs Harvie and Ford should go to Islay and walk round the seaward fringes of the century-old Machrie golf course and see what I mean, but watch out for the terns at nesting time,the flocks of geese in the late Autumn or the adders sunbathing on the greens when the sun is hot in summer!
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I live in Aberdeen and would just like to say that I welcome Donald Trumps golf course, jobs and investment in scotland.
AND I dont even play golf!!!!!
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As I am totaly against this development under the guise of “good for the local economy” and the “best golf course in the World” as it will be neither as it will be the local taxpayers who will pick up the ongoing costs of this self centred family.
Promise of jobs? Cleaning, garden maintenance, greenkeepers, local services funded by the local taxpayers and taxis from Dyce. Any more anyone that will benefit the Scottish economy because I can think of non.
This area is unique in its shifting sand dunes which have evolved over millenia with all of its inhabitants to be changed at the turning up trumps can/will have a knock on effect down the whole ecological chain.
This is only about Trump nothing more and Scotland will eventually resent ever pandering to his whims and fanciful ideas.
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Aye you’ll be right! Not.
Across the Highlands and Islands there are plenty folk who would love to have permanent work of any kind. What’s wrong with being a cleaner or a gardener or a greenkeeper for goodness sake.
Take a run through deserted glens, closed schools, communities with no children of Primary School age.
Scotland needs inward investment.
Check out Askernish Golf Course down the road – you can see St Kilda from some tees – and listen to Corncrake at others.
Trump may not be the most wonderful human being on this wee planet, but the vast majority of Scottish people within and outwith Aberdeenshire welcome this development.
Fore!
Slainte “Fore”!
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Hi, Spagan, you say “but the vast majority of Scottish people within and outwith Aberdeenshire welcome this development.”
I think you overstate your case by using the word “vast” i.e. a huge amount.
The project is deeply devisive and the country was and is split over the matter.
If it was a vast majority there would not be a controversy would there?
I recognise the very strong feelings on either side, and also the reasons why they feel so passionately.
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There are what are called “vociferous minorities” Wee Willie – you may have heard of the term. They regularly block developments that the “vast majority” would like to see progressed.
I think there may well be a majority who dislike Donald and his pet/hairpiece – but I think that only a tiny percentage of people across Scotland object to inward investment that consists of a golf course, a hotel and some upmarket houses.
All of the major parties and politicians are entirely supportive.
If it was really controversial, then I think St Pious Murphy and Elmer Fudd would have something more to say about it?
Slainte Mhor
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Spagan says “If it was really controversial, then I think St Pious Murphy and Elmer Fudd would have something more to say about it? My answer to that is no matter what side they took they would have annoyed some people and they did not want to do that for the reason they would lose votes in the future. They did the Libdem thing and sat on the fence.
The SNP lost some life time members over it, but the SNP were in government and thought they had to step in and make a decision. The opposition parties were happy for the SNP to lose support and not them.
Being in government does have its problems in having to make decisions that inevitable some will passionately disagree with.
It explains the constant switch from Tory to Labour in Westminster if you think about it.
Finally, if it wasn’t for “vociferous minorities” we would never have had a Scottish National Party.
I rest my case!
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oh for goodness sake, a man buys football strips for a school team, so what. We then have the thing spun out of all proportions, linking it to council policy on sponsorship (which it is not), bribing local community (so cheaply?)
A load of nonsense from what appear to serial objectors.
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The Trump Organisation did not donate money to Balmedie Primary School or ask the pupils to plant marram grass on the dunes out of an interest in the children’s education or welfare. It was done out of Donald Trump’s desire to gain positive publicity and the relentless spin that his golf resort is good for the area, which I can assure you it is not.
If the Trump Organisation were charitable they would have donated money to the New York 9/11 fund that was set up after the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre. Many people died including members of the rescue services WHOSE CHILDREN are now left without fathers. Donald Trump was born in New York, he lives in New York, his company is based in New York and NOT ONE DIME was given by the Trump Organisation to this 9/11 charitable fund or to the CHILDREN WHOSE FATHERS HAD DIED in this tragedy.
I was born in Aberdeen and have lived here all my life, I care deeply for my homeland, please wake up and see Donald Trump for the money hungry developer that he is.
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All developers are “money hungry“. It’s why they develop. It doesn’t make the development wrong … only profitable. Which, in the end, is a good thing.
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It makes it wrong when the developer breaks planning legislation, intimidates and bullies, destroys an SSSI and secretly tries to evict people from their homes.
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Why do companies support and donate money to football teams, not because they like football, some of them never seen a football match in there life. Grow up
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Companies should not exploit children as part of a shady and scheming agenda, Domhnull your the one who should grow up.
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I say get on with it… This golf course project will enhance the area..
Low earning jobs? Well according to a recent survey the UK in general have a very high percentage of citizens who are employed in such.. Minimum wage or partime.
The unscrupulous Westminster Labour Government give themselves applause for passing the minimum wage legislation.
Sadly this was a means used for cutting salaries. Many companies who paid reasonable salaries folded to reappear under a different name advertising minimum wage.. A scam.
At this time and far into the future Donald Trumps initiative shall be successful and advantageous to the population of the area.
Also to the best of my knowledge a big majority of local residents say green for go, GO.. Get on with it Donald
Where were the protesters when Gullane (Muirfield), Turnbury, Troon, St Andrews,
etc. where planned and became famous old golf.courses…
A! Loch Lomond ? Now here we have arguably Scotlands best known beauty spot.
Has this modern golf course enhanced or ruined the views associated with the area..
Answer on the back of a postage stamp please..
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How many of those were SSSI?
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Rab
Not sure that there were SSSIs in place when these courses were established.
Plenty other Golf Courses within and adjacent to SSSIs.
The scenery from Loch Lomond, Gleneagles, Nairn, St Andrews etc promotes Scotland around the world. It’ll be good for Scotland and for NE Tourism when Trump’s Resort is promoted whilst hosting future Championships.
Slainte Mhor
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As I said in a previous posting, go to any of the real links courses and see how the shifting dunes live happily side-by-side with wonderful golf courses. The big benefit is that, because the maintained ground of the golf course acts as a buffer, the erosion is controlled and the wild life seems perfectly happy in its man-made and natural habitats. In addition to having been a North Sea Tiger (as previously mentioned in other posts), I was also associated with golf-course design and have had discussions with conservationists who see golf courses as wild life habitats and corridors – and saviours of land that would otherwise disappear. My only gripe with Mr trump is the large concentration of housing he has in Menie.
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But the shifting dunes are being ’stabilised’ at Menie and won’t actually shift any longer… and that is why they are an SSSI… don’t you appreciate that?
Can you name any other ’shifting dunes systems’ which are SSSI then which have been made into golf courses?
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how many SSSIs, feed children, put clothes on folks backs and roofs over their heads?
SSSI are important but they are not sacrosanct, this matter has already been fully aired at the long and exhaustive planning process, decision has been made now live with it.
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This paper is certainly different but not in the way it had predicted or was anticipated. Too much fluff and far too much omission of substantive subjects being reported.
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I’m still hoping that this paper will cover at least ONE Political story every weekday.
It isn’t as though there is a dearth of material, yesterday had the fairly damning report from the Electoral Commission, about the Glasgow North East……..and it is difficult to think of a “Political” topic more relevant to all of us in Scotland.
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“It isn’t as though there is a dearth of material…”
You would think that, but why is Hamish reporting on a story about an Irish politician who had to resign over giving support to a criminal when Hamish admits himself that it was not the same as Nicola Sturgeon’s apparent misdemeanor?
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There is the fact that this did not need to spoil the SSSI to build a golf course, and nor did the golf course require a massive ‘luxury’ housing development to sit alongside it, on land where other builders would not have received permission to build.
Some of the claims being made here for the ‘benefits’ of this development might prove to be illusory.
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Re the jobs and benefits of the development. Included in the plans are a hostel for several hundred migrant workers.
Only the desperate, or a fawning creep, would want these “can I carry your bag Sir” jobs.
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This Ford is an idiot. Robin Harper would not be complaining if this was a gay rights issue.
The people up north that I have heard discuss this on the radio or read commnet from in the press want this golf course. The funny thing is that people from everywhere else dont want it.
For my part I could not comment as I think it is for the local peop;e to decide this matter not outsiders.
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Martin Ford was nominated for councillor of the year
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Christ, the new newspaper has got the same astroturfing numpties as the Scotsman. How convenient to have such statistics so close to hand. How amusing to include a wee homophobic dig.
Yeah, lets have a housing estate with pitch & putt for the super-rich. Maybe they still pay 3p per ball retrieved. What an opportunity for Aberdeenshire.
“What Ford and his gang of middle class RSPB, and Scottish National Heritage chums want is a personal club”
Yeah, they can’t afford the extortionate dune fees at Menie, can’t wait until it’s turned into a gated community, open to all.
……..
If you see a middle-aged guy with a toupee hanging around the local primary school and handing out presents to the kids if they come and play around at his place, you know who to call.
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‘For my part I could not comment as I think it is for the local people to decide this matter not outsiders.’
The local planning committee turned it down. It was then called in and decided by Ministers, who are not local.
There appears to be many who comment without a great deal of knowledge of the situation.
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The “local planning committee” are not the “local people. They were a small group of people who made a dreadful mistake that went against the desires of both the “local people” and the overwhelming majority of Aberdeenshire Council. People know more about the situation than you might like
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The local planning committee is the elected committee which lawfully represents the people of the area.
The desires of the ‘local people’? Not all local people want this development. Too many locals who do, appear to not have a great deal of idea of what they are letting themselves in for.
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Hi Spagan,
I’ve replied to you but it is away up the screen. I enjoy the banter. Cheers.
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Perhaps those people who are so quick to condemn the Trump organisation should take the time to speak to some of the ordinary people who live in the area. Before all the publicity started many local folks were scared to walk their children or even their dogs in this area due to the presence of undesirables who used this out of the way area to pursue their alcohol and drugs habits. The Trump presence has effectively cleaned up the area. The outsiders and their friends may not want the Trump benefits but the ordinary Scots welcome them.
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I find it interesting that the question I posed (I think a perfectly logical one) was moderated.
Exactly WHAT rule are they accused of breaking?
If you are “accusing” someone of something be specific. Please quote the rule.
For all I know they may be in violation of all KINDS of rules, but this article didn’t prove it because it quoted not a single rule this in violation of.
It seems to me that is a reasonable comment. I neither approve or disapprove of the Trump project. But when someone is “accused” of something it should be something specific.
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I assume it is this rule “deals will only be entered into “if the benefits to consumers and/or the public outweigh the costs”. The association between the council and the sponsoring company must be “responsible” and agreements must be in writing.”
This is stated in the article. It would seem that the benefits outweigh the costs. I would think the company is responsible. That just leaves the agreement must be in writing to be satisfied. That is easily remedied if it is not already done.
I do not see the problem if that is the rule the sponsorship violates.
Is there another rule? J R Tomlin has a point.
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Let me say right from the start I am a north-est born and bred AND an avid golfer.
I cannot believe how naive people are.Mr Trump is doing this purely as a PR exercise. He knows he is going to have to apply for CPOs and is fully aware of the public backlash against this, so he is trying to curry favour with the locals. Mr Trump only does things if he thinks it will be of benefit. A benefit to whom. himself of course. Forget all this stuff about building the golf course in memory of his mother. The real reason is so he is able to build houses.HE IS FIRST AND FOREMOST A PROPERTY DEVELOPER. WAKEN UP PEOPLE.
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Donald Trump sees an opportunity to make a pile of money for Donald Trump full stop. Everything else is secondary, and may be beneficial to others or maybe not. If the primary aim is not met it will not happen.
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Donald Trump is finding his way around Scots politics real fast feed the natives football dont take your eye of the ball Alex, as at this rate he will have your job.
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Anyone who thinks that this is going to end in anything but tears is aff their coupon.
Trump is like a latter day King Canute except it is the sand he’s trying to stop rather than the tide. Anyone with an “o” level or Standard grade in Geography can tell you what will happen. Let alone the fact that stabilizing the sand will affect the coastline further afield you have to ask yourself how did all that sand get there in the first place. In fact that would be an excellent project for the school children. Maybe Trump could give them some money to measure the long shore drift.
The children can plant grass and builders can stabilise the sand as much as they like but the sand is going to keep on coming.
If this is really such a good spot for a golf course why isn’t there one there already? It’s not like we have been averse to building golf courses in Aberdeenshire as demonstrated by the 60+ courses which already exist.
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My blog in the Caledonian Mercury……
$cotland for $ale!
Aberdeenshire Council are now complicit in the scheme to bully the last few residents off their land as Trump tramps on any dissent. Ignorance is bliss, and most of the the Trump supporters are blissful in their simplistic understanding that he is moved to help the poor kiddies get out from behind their desks. Aye, right.
Trump gets priceless publicity for peanuts.
The acid test will be if the same school will be as welcome to explore the land when the golf course is up and running.
Believe it or not the planting of this maram grass IS damaging- changing what is a dynamic, every changing dune habitat to just another links shoreline. The truth of the matter is that the dune system IS unique and should have been defended better by our leaders.
Unfortunately, it seems the lure of cash is too tempting. Union Terrace Gardens are up for sale too. What price Prince’s Street or Arthur’s Seat? What price the flow country or the wilderness of the Cairngorms? What price….well…anything?
The story of Aberdeen and ’shire is over-shadowed by our elected officials inability to make any of the oil money – that flowed through the county- stick. The biggest corporations in the world set up camp in Aberdeen, yet their legacy will be empty offices (not even worth preserving), and a population who would sell their Granny. The Victorians left Aberdeen with a legacy of fine architecture while Lord Byron, who was educated here wrote;
There is a pleasure in the pathless woods
There is a rapture in the lonely shore
There is a society, where none intrudes,
By the deep sea, and music in it’s roar:
I love not man the less, but Nature more.
Somehow we have lost the plot. Our eternal shame is an inability to follow the wisdom of ages. Lessons and examples laid before us, like wooded city gardens or perfectly lonely shores are now valued only as commodities. We know the price of everything and the value of nothing.
Speculators now know what type of country we are, they just need to haggle over the price.
A
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J M Barrie said “There are few more impressive sights in the world than a Scotsman on the make.” Trump’s mother was Scots. Trump is certainly a “go getter.”
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I feel really sad for those who are probably going to lose their homes because the councilors havent got the guts to stand up for the rights of these people.
Surely Balmedie residents who back this can never feel safe in the beds of their neighbouring homes should Trump then decide he wants more land.
Will he sue us then for refusing to rename the A90 Trump Highway after blessing us unimportant non oil working individuals with homes and a golf course we will not get anywhere near?
I believe those who are against him have taken rather more time researching the man and his methods of business than those who think he is great.
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On reflection, I think Trump is on the make big style.
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Oh Willie
Did you think he was Santa Claus or The Tooth Fairy.
He’s a Billionaire Developer.
He makes omelettes by breaking eggs.
This omelette isn’t a bad inward investment.
Jobs is jobs.
Slainte Mhor
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OK Spagan, I do not really want to argue about it. It is one of those things, neither all bad nor all good. That is what causes the controversy.
There are omelettes and other omelettes, if you will let me off with that and shake hands.
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