After a long drawn out process the Scottish Government has controversially granted infamous American tycoon turned television celebrity Donald Trump permission to build a luxury golf resort in rural Aberdeenshire. It will feature two golf courses and hundreds of private homes and is set to be the most expensive golf resort in the world. The plans have faced widespread opposition and the means used to finally secure their approval has only exposed the reality of our allegedly democratic system and the slavish attitude of the SNP government towards big business. 

The proposal for the development was rejected by the Planning Committee of Aberdeenshire Council late last year. Trump’s plan came under pressure from local groups and environmental organisations, worried at the impact that the development would have on the local area. In light of this refusal, the Scottish Government exploited loopholes in the law and took the unprecedented step of “calling in” the decision. This is to say that rather than accepting the decision made by the people elected to take it, the Scottish Government chose to side with Trump; launching a farcical public enquiry into the matter. The result was as predictable as it was sickening, with Finance Secretary John Swinney announcing the government’s support for the proposal and Alex Salmond presenting the nationalists as bringing jobs to Scotland at a time of economic crisis. 

The plans have faced opposition from fringe groups of marginalised radicals including the National Trust for Scotland, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and the Sustainable Aberdeenshire Group. They have pointed to the damage the construction of the resort and use of the land as a golf course, with Aedan Smith, head of planning and development at RSPB Scotland stating that: "The development will cause the destruction of a dune system, with its precious wildlife, on a site which is protected by law and should continue to be available for future generations to enjoy. “ 

The natural beauty of the north of Scotland is enjoyed each year by people from all over the world. Trump’s victory will see a valuable part of them potentially damaged to make way for a glorified theme park that will only entertain those with enough money (and the absurd inclination) to pay vast sums of money to go on an expensive golfing holiday. Sites such as these are supposed to be under the protection of the very people who have handed it over to Trump. The sand dunes of Aberdeenshire should be seen as a valuable resource for the local community and not as an opportunity for the further enrichment of a greedy billionaire. 

The SNP has attempted to justify supporting the development on the grounds that it will bring jobs and prosperity to Aberdeenshire. The same argument has frequently been used to justify the nuclear weapons base at Faslane, and in neither case does it hold water. 

This development will provide employment but not on an environmentally sustainable or socially useful basis. Does Scotland really need yet another attraction for wealthy tourists or homes for the rich? Profits from the project will of course go to the deserving coffers of the Trump Empire to be invested on whatever self serving project Donald decides to invest in next.  

The construction of the resort is a complete waste of resources that could be used for the improvement of the lives of the people of Aberdeenshire. The workers who build the resort and those who will be employed to run it could be used to construct social housing and to develop renewable energy sources, for which there is a great potential in the area. Trump has already slammed plans for a wind farm as spoiling the view of his site; obviously the affect that the abhorrent sight a few wind turbines might have on rich tourists come golfers should be the motivating factor in such developments. 

On top of all his other crimes Trump derived the format for The Apprentice. It’s time that his scheme was fired along with the spineless political leaders that have supported it.