Trump Battles Scottish Windfarm In Court

Donald Trump's legal challenge to an offshore windfarm project supported by the Scottish Government is getting under way.

The US businessman opposes the 11-turbine European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre off the Aberdeenshire coast, claiming it will spoil the view from his nearby luxury golf course.

Mr Trump has said he will pull the plug on his own controversial plans to finish his proposed resort with a large hotel, holiday homes and a residential village if the windfarm goes ahead.

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "The Scottish Government is committed to the successful and sustainable development of an offshore wind sector. It is not appropriate for the Scottish Government to comment on ongoing legal proceedings."

The turbines will be capable of yielding, on average, enough electricity to power 68,000 UK households in a year, according to designers.

A change to the application in August last year increased the proposed height of some turbines to just short of 200m, prompting further anger from Mr Trump.

Donald Trump's own plans for Scotland development are controversial

The long-running application has pitted Mr Trump against First Minister Alex Salmond. The US property tycoon's scheme at Menie Estate, near Balmedie, also caused controversy, not least for building on an area of protected dunes.

The golf resort application was initially rejected by a local authority committee, causing turmoil among councillors, and was called in by the Scottish Government. The First Minister became local MSP for the area in 2007.

Lang Banks, director of environmental group WWF Scotland, said: "It's depressing to think that Donald Trump has nothing better to do than use his vast wealth to try and undermine Scotland's aim of becoming a cleaner, greener, job-creating nation.

"We hope that, in the end, the court agrees that giving the go-ahead to this development was the right decision.

"Scotland is home to a quarter of Europe's offshore wind resource. Studies estimate that Scotland's offshore wind industry could create 28,000 jobs by 2020 and contribute over £7bn of investment to the economy.

"It would be a great pity if Donald Trump was in any way responsible for frustrating Scotland's ambition to generate clean power and green jobs."

The hearing, known as a petition for judicial review, is taking place at the Court of Session in Edinburgh and is expected to last four days.

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