Trump would have ‘wrecked’ East Neuk

Cheryl Wood, The Courier, 2 April 2007

Kingsbarns had a lucky escape after being eyed by Donald Trump as he sought the perfect location for his £1 billion golf resort, community leaders have said.

The conservation village’s councillor and a leading community councillor made the claim as it emerged the US tycoon considered Kingsbarns before selecting the Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire.

Community council secretary Ronald Sandford said, had Mr Trump created the huge development he proposes in the north-east of Scotland in Fife, it would have “wrecked” the East Neuk.

The Trump Organisation wants to turn a large chunk of the picturesque Menie Estate into two championship golf courses and build a huge five-star hotel, a golf academy and 950 houses.

The debate raging in Aberdeenshire on the potential economic boost and the perceived wildlife threat would have ignited the north-east of Fife had Mr Trump not rejected Kingsbarns as a possible site.

It was revealed in an environmental report commissioned by the Trump Organisation and lodged with Aberdeenshire Council on Friday that Kingsbarns and three others were considered and dismissed.

The others were in north Ayrshire, Normandy, in France, and Kinsale, in the Republic of Ireland.

Kingsbarns has a history of golf dating back to the late 18th century and already has an 18-hole links course, opened in 2000, which hosts the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

Mr Sandford said there was no hint Mr Trump looked at creating a golf resort at the village but added, “This would have wrecked the East Neuk.”

Had the village and its coastline been the winner in Mr Trump’s eyes, he said, “I think the reaction not just in Kingsbarns but around the whole East Neuk would have been one of concern.

“It would not have been warmly received by people.

“This is a conservation village and we are still anxiously awaiting the outcome of the draft local plan and the housing development it may or may not bring to the area.” He said a development on par with the one on the cards for Menie would have been out of balance with Kingsbarns.

He said, “I honestly can’t see where it would have gone on the scale being proposed in Aberdeenshire.”

In terms of golfing in the area, he said, “We are already pretty well catered for. We have the most remarkable golf real estate in this area anywhere in the world.”

Kingsbarns councillor Peter Douglas would not have looked upon a £1 billion golf resort and housing complex in his ward with glee.

He said, “The idea of Mr Trump coming to Kingsbarns would not have filled the locals with any great sense of joy.

“In this ward, which takes in Crail, et cetera, we already have seven golf courses—another might be one too many.

“The idea of 900 or so houses would have raised all the fears there were about the late lamented St Andrews Bay development, now renamed Fairmont St Andrews, where there was suspicion housing would be on the back of it.

“That looks to be a pattern, that golf courses are something of an excuse for building houses.”

In an earlier interview Mr Trump revealed he spent more than five years reviewing sites throughout Europe for his Trump International Golf Links.

He said when he saw the land at Menie Estate he was overwhelmed by the imposing dunes and coastline.

The environmental report submitted on Friday concedes the resort would, if approved, cause significant adverse changes to a protected environment but the Trump Organisation say it would bring £60 million a year to Scotland’s economy.