The Donald Trump golf development saga

The Donald Trump golf development saga is set to take its latest twist, over the controversial issue of possible compulsory purchase orders.

The Trump Organisation wants more time for negotiations with four owners who have refused to sell their properties.

Their land is wanted as part of the US tycoon's £1bn plans for Menie.

A full Aberdeenshire Council meeting is expected to debate a motion against the use of CPOs, and also hear from one of the defiant residents, David Milne.
It's unsettling, it's uncomfortable and it's threatening, it's like someone standing over you with a permanent threat

The CPO motion has been proposed by Councillor Martin Ford, who chaired the council committee that originally rejected the proposal for the development.

It was later called in by the Scottish government, and approved.

Cllr Ford said he remains fundamentally opposed to compulsory purchase orders being used.

He told BBC Scotland: "It is the instinctive reaction, the gut reaction of virtually all if not all of Aberdeenshire councillors as it is with most other people that this would be a monstrous breach of people's basic rights, quite unfair and is wholly unjustified."

Mr Trump has accused the councillor of putting his own political agenda above the interests of local people, but Mr Ford has denied he has been carrying out a personal vendetta.

The council meeting is being held at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (AECC) on Thursday morning.

Menie resident Mr Milne will be allowed to address councillors.

He told BBC Scotland: "It's unsettling, it's uncomfortable and it's threatening, it's like someone standing over you with a permanent threat and a bullying tactic which is exactly what it is."

'Greatest' resort

The protest group Tripping Up Trump has also said it intended to hand over a petition with more than 10,000 names against the plans.

Mr Trump's son, Donald Trump Jnr, earlier said the owners had been offered a 15% premium on market value.
Protests were earlier held about applications for land


He said they had also been given the chance to buy new homes at cost price, and the lifetime use of facilities at the new resort.

Campaigners against Mr Trump's golf resort plans last week dressed up statues around Scotland as the American tycoon.

The Menie Liberation Front group said the masks and golf clubs had been added to about 20 statues in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Stirling.

The Trump Organisation condemned the "stunt".

Mr Trump has said he hopes to create the "world's greatest" golf resort at Menie.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/north_east/8283140.stm