Serial forum poster and all round good egg Scott has chucked in his two pence worth and pointed us toward the problems Donald Trump is encountering building Foveran Links. Donald Trump's proposed golf resort would "effectively destroy" a valuable nature conservation site, Scottish Natural Heritage warned yesterday. The environment agency told the local authority that the £1billion plans for Foveran Links, near Aberdeen, would seriously damage a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and harm fragile wildlife habitat. But SNH also hinted at a compromise by suggesting an alternative of just one 18-hole course, rather than the proposed two, on an altered layout. Its submission underlines the need to take the local economy into consideration and distances SNH from final decision-making - a responsibility which will rest with Aberdeenshire councillors and Scottish ministers. The scheme, which includes a 450-bedroom hotel, 950 holiday homes and golf academy, has been embraced by business and tourism groups who welcomed an estimated £50million boost to the local economy. Mr Trump's Scottish project team previously said the 1,400-acre resort could create as many as 6,000 jobs over a 10-year period. A further 1,200 jobs could be established at the completed resort. SNH's report comes in light of significant objections from a range of environmental groups, including the Scottish Wildlife Trust. The report questions much of the Trump Organisation's recent environmental statement, which it was hoped would ease the resort's progress through the planning stages. SNH said controls set out to relocate and protect wildlife, such as badgers, were "not possible" and that the developers had failed to recognise "many hundreds" of years of natural development. The agency also found fault with landscaping plans - which it branded inadequate - and called for further information on proposed housing and infrastructure. Despite the objections, the submission has identified a possible compromise. The report added: "SNH is not opposed in principle to the development and states that a single championship golf course could be accommodated on adjacent land within the development site without causing significant impacts on the habitats within the nationally important SSSI." SNH area manager for Grampian Robin Payne said his duty was to look after these protected areas, which account for around 10% of the most important natural heritage in the country. He said the "stunning" site around Menie Estate, near Balmedie, would be significantly damaged under the resort plans as they stood. He continued: "I'd like to emphasise that SNH's role here is to advise Aberdeenshire Council on the impacts any proposal would have on the natural heritage. "The council will consider SNH's advice, with all the other factors such as the road infrastructure, the Grampian economy, public services and also their own environmental duties when making their decision." The objection to the development is mainly due to plans to "stabilise" an area of mobile dune system on part of the links between the River Don, at Aberdeen, and the River Ythan, at Newburgh. SNH fears it would cause the loss of protected land - around a third of the resort area - due to damage to sand dune landforms and habitats. Rare plants which SNH said could be lost from the site include adder's tongue fern, curved sedge, intermediate wintergreen and sand fescue. There are also concerns that bats and badgers would be affected. The Trump Organisation has previously said the resort would enhance the environment with sensitive handling. A spokeswoman said: "The Trump Organisation is reviewing all comments concerning its planning application to the Aberdeenshire Council and will issue a comprehensive response in due course. "The Trump Organisation and SNH have a positive working relationship based upon mutual respect and trust. We look forward to addressing each of their concerns and will work towards implementing environmentally responsible solutions." For more on this story click here Be sure to check out the comments at the bottom and feel free to add your own. To find out how to be a guest blogger click here…
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