Trump gets go ahead on E. Scotland coast :(

[flower_girl]

I am fuming about this... (and glad I can vent my frustration on here).

As someone who works full time to protect sand dunes I am outraged that this could happen. I work on a stretch of narrow and degraded dunes which have been damaged through past development. And it's devastating to see this happening during these modern times in which we actually understand how special, fragile and dynamic sand dune systems are.

And the part which upsets me the most is the how permission can be granted to destroy a SSSI. It's totally crazy! (having said that it sadly doesn't surprise me)

A sad time for sand dunes and SSSIs...

[svenrufus]

Originally Posted by Billy Wobble Dagger

Below is a link to what the Scottish wildlife trust has to say

Press News

BWD

Sheessh! Un-believable. I'm feeling the 'lying-down-in-front-of-bulldozers' instinct coming to the fore....
I sincerely hope that there is a strong backlash against this.
I might write to Sean connery and tell him what an idiot he is being for a start.

[altyfc]

I also thought that this had been rejected previously.

Is there any chance of this being overturned back to the original decision?

[Billy Wobble Dagger]

Originally Posted by svenrufus

Sheessh! Unbelievable. I'm feeling the 'lying-down-in-front-of-bulldozers' instinct coming to the fore....
I sincerely hope that there is a strong backlash against this.
I might write to Sean connery and tell him what an idiot he is being for a start.

If you have Mr Connery's address please post it here so we can all bombard him.

Certainly a stand should be made because, as Gill and Flower girl say, where will it end. If one SSSI is bulldozed how many more will follow.

Flower girl, don't worry your not the only one venting frustration at the moment. I hope your dunes won't become the target of a money grabbing..........

BWD

[Vectisbirder]

I hope the whole venture goes tits up. A billionaire walks in and flashes his cash and, I don't know about anyone else, but I had a feeling that Mr Vulgar was going to be given the go ahead for his golf course all along because, unfortunately, when wildlife and money are in direct competition the filthy lucre wins every time. Too many (Scottish) pound signs were in people's eyes.

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by Vectisbirder

I hope the whole venture goes tits up. A billionaire walks in and flashes his cash and, I don't know about anyone else, but I had a feeling that Mr Vulgar was going to be given the go ahead for his golf course all along because, unfortunately, when wildlife and money are in direct competition the filthy lucre wins every time. Too many (Scottish) pound signs were in people's eyes.

Stupid thing is that there was a solution for both golf course/leisure complex and wildlife a re-design was actually possible but Trump in his utter arrogance chose to dismiss it.

[Meta menardi]

I live within about 50 miles of two theme parks (tasteful entertainment for the discerning consumer). They have both argued that they are (not should be, are) worthy of consideration for disregarding planning laws, as they provide dreadfully paid jobs for the rural youth.

You can play golf in any venue, you can have a scummy zoo and rather trashy fun-fair, or ride some bizarre thrill ride in any brown-field site, but the proponents of this kind of dross like to do it in virgin countryside. This really should stop.

[FungiJus]

Very, very disappointing.

Does anyone know what is so 'special' about the area (apart from the obvious fact that it is largely unspoilt - a rare thing in itself). Are there any particular species there of interest or vulnerability?

J.

[earthdragon64]

Those following this issue may be interested in the following link, also bear in mind that this is only outline planning permission, a number of conditions have to be satisfied, some of which in relation to affordable housing may be dealbreakers;

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Bu...oi/MenieEstate

This is on the Scottish Government website and contains a lot of information about this matter. The 2nd link, 'Report of the public local enquiry 'on the above link, gives options to open a PDF document with the whole planning report, some 295 pages. I haven't read all of it, but from about page 252 there is a list of recommended planning conditions in relation to the ecology.

[o_alba]

I think that our system of designating areas for protection needs to be entirely reviewed. This example shows that nothing is truly protected by the law as it currently stands. Money comes first, our natural heritage second.

FungiJus, here is a document with lots of information about what can be found on the land as it currently stands:

http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/plan...pecies%20a.pdf

Alexander