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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Steven Rae

New video from Donald Trump's second Scots golf course angers celebs and environmentalists

A viral clip showing work being carried out at Donald Trump's second golf course in Aberdeenshire has been met with anger from celebrities and environmentalists.

Anthony Baxter released You've Been Trumped in 2011, documenting the controversy surrounding the construction of a luxury golf course at Balmedie.

The former US president was back in Scotland earlier this month as work gets started on his second course. Which led filmmaker Anthony to also return to the scene and speak with some of the people who against the plans.

Farmer and salmon fisherman Michael Forbes became famous 12 years ago when he opposed the proposal after his home was described as a "pigsty" by Trump.

Mr Forbes said: "The golf course is going to be up that side of me, I've got one going up that side of me. With the food shortages that's on the go just now and they're digging up good arable land to build a bloody golf course."

The second golf course was subject to a planning battle, as it involved developing the rolling sand dunes at the site. Alex Salmond, who was first minister at the time, intervened in the process amid claims a secret deal had been done with Trump to give the course the green light.

Dr Jim Hansom of the University of Glasgow, said the second course will incorporate "spectacular sand dune systems".

He said: "It's beyond belief the planning authorities and the Scottish government have given consent for a golf course without a shred of a plan and without any information on the environmental status of that area."

The short film was released on Twitter on May 19 and has been viewed more than 100,000 times, with comments from some household names among the replies.

Dragon's Den star Deborah Meaden said: "Another attack on our delicate and depleted nature by none other than… the Trumper."

Janice Burns of BBC Scotland said: "Jeezo, this is horrendous. History repeating."

Scottish actor Tam Dean Burn asked: "How the f*** is this being allowed?! Why have @scotgov given planning permission for this 'without a shred of a plan'."

He added: "What an utter disgrace. Who's responsible? What use are you [Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater]?"

Author Kevin Williamson said: "FFS. Whoever gave this latest Trump atrocity the green light should be hounded out of office. Thanks @antbaxter for documenting this."

Former US president Donald Trump (PA)

And Professor Matt Hannon of the University of Strathclyde said: "Lost for words. Why is Scotland allowing this to happen? Shameful in every way."

Trump has said he will create "one of the great golf courses of the world", and is naming it after his late mother, Mary Anne MacLeod.

He said: "We will build a course that will be fit to host many great championships in the future along with our championship links.

"We've had a lot of pleasure in working on this land and there is no other land like it. We have incredible views by the sea and there are no other dunes like these in the world. It will be a great success."

The council said the work: "Will contribute towards the significant social and economic benefits expected to be delivered by the wider development proposals within the Menie estate".

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