Well it can hardly come as a surprise that there is a quid pro quo for building a high standard sporting facility. No such thing as a free lunch, and all that. On the other hand, houses for 250 high rollers could bring in a bunch of dollars to the economy. Do we want to be bitter, thrawn and unspoiled or do we want to join the market place ?

I suppose if he doesn't get his way there will be yet another hissy fit, and threats to withdraw from any development. So if Trump did withdraw, would that really be such a disaster?
Would a local builder be allowed to build to this scale on this site? If not, why let any other person?
It is unfair but not unusual for there to be one rule for the rich and another for the rest of us. Wouldn't it be good if in this case the current planning pollicies won out!
How much heritage are we prepared to sell? The earth is only ours temporarily and we are custodians, not owners so it behoves us to act in the best interest of all the creatures who share this planet with us.

alan 1/It will be in his missus name,or his brother in law. Ubi3/ the taxes gathered will go to london ,the profit will go to usa, the work force will be from eastern europe,yeah great for the scottish economy.

Scotland should be trying to ditch its dull and uninspiring tag but it hasn't a hope if it retains the small minded and insular attitudes expressed above. Ireland has raced ahead of Scotland as a world golf centre and frankly that is pathetic. We should jump at the chance of Trump investing here. It surprises me that he has chosen Aberdeen and he's right to worry about the 'ocean views' - most days it's sea harr views - but if he's for investing why not? He will likely make a packet but it's up to the locals to make sure they're placed to benefit too. Whoever buys the houses and whoever he can attract to play golf are bound to bring money into the local economy and it defeats me to think of what could be wrong with that. Trump would get my vote over a few birds or an expensive, unsightly and probably ineffectual offshore wind farm.

There is, as usual, a touch of the politics of envy about Trump. Usually from the 'never-taken-a-risk-in-their-life' brigade. Most of whom no doubt work in the public sector.

Personally, I'll take anybodies money. If Donald Trump wants to spend £300,000,000 in the Aberdeen area you should bite his hand off. Other places in Scotland, like Paisley, are dying for investment and a few NIMBYs on the east coast are planning to spike the deal of the century.
Maybe because Trump's mother was from Lewis?

doug 6 is a jack mconnell supporter by the sound of it,[ sad realy cant be many left].mCONllonnell is the reason scotland is dull and uninspiring, he has no vision like yourself,lets just sell off scotlands natural beauty spots for a few quid,would that make you happy?.

Have any of you that are criticising Donald Trumps proposal looked at the Menie Estate website. I don't see them conserving many birds there, looks like they are shooting them instead. It's the sort of place ayone can use as long as you are a billionaire like Rab #9. I wonder how many Aberdonians are welcome there as it is?
Veto Donald Trump's deal and you will drive investment from Scotland, which won't matter much to all you tycoons who are posting, but think of the poor people.

We seem have a bag of chips on our shoulders. Has the concept of enterprise, investment and reward simply been driven out of the national psyche by generations of benefit gyros ? Have we been indoctrinated into the expectation that Trump should make this investment as a social benefit ? That is a little naive. We're in danger of sending some very negative messages to the world about Scotland.

What has all this to do with the furtherance of the game of golf?? The Hebrides (note the new spelling) have the best potential natural golf course in the world, to be modernized for a few bob.
Why dosnt he just buy a football club like every other '*illionaire.

I imagine it will be good for the local economy in the same way as US-owned out-of-town supermarkets are good for the local economy. It will provide jobs, yes, but the majority of the profits will be out of the country before you can say "Walmart". Is there a chance that a local consortium could mount a rival proposal? A Scottish-owned centre of golfing excellence? I don't much like golf, or golf courses, but I like organisations that drain money out of our economy even less.

Rab, I'm almost done laughing that anyone could suggest I support Jack McConnell. However, I wouldn't accuse him of being the sole cause of Scotland's need for an injection of vibrancy - its a historical problem with the scots psyche. The Menie Estate might well be a beauty spot - I've never seen it despite living no more than 20 miles away for over 30 years - and it seems not many other ordinary folk have seen it either. If we protect every bit of open land from change and development we reject progress and face a bleak future. Some areas of Scotland should be off limits and there will always be arguments about which, but I hope this potentially attractive scheme gets the go ahead. I no longer live in the area and I don't play golf - I just want to see Scotland move forward and begin to compete with other countries who do far more than us to attract foreign investment and international tourism.

If the project now emerging has the support of Jack McConnell, that is reason alone for it to be rejected. Practically everything he has backed has been flawed to some extent or other.

doug 14/ Phew, pleased to hear you dont support wee jack boot.Why not a scottish owned golf centre,as bob 13/ states ,that way the profit would stay in scotland not end up in the usa.The historical problem will still exist as long as all we have to take scotland forward is the talentless , self important,devious polticitians that represent the new labour party.

Be careful. Trump has a way of getting his way. He will benefit financially - but what about that wonderful environment? So what if his mother was from the Isle of Lewis. Both my parents and generations before me are from there. The Jessimans from Aberdeenshire. Don't ruin the area, just be cautious of big money and the results.

once again the envious brigade is out. Not in my back yard. Come on a world renowed golfing complex in aberdeen with some much needed houses thrown in!!! the planners in aberdeen are fools anyway look at the beach complex did teh amadeus night club fit in with local plannig road map? if it did it must be the most ugly, useless map ever. Come on aberdeen we have an opertunity to get some life after oil

Do as the Chinese and Russian's do limit the amount of profit than can be removed from the country.
Joint venture also comes to mind.

Margaux, having been in China and beening very interested in its progress i can tell you almost all there joint venture are complete disaster, leaveing the government and ppl out of pocket, anyone how seems to think chinese ecomonic models are a good one for this country need their head checked

Can't say that I agree with Doug/9 - Scotland is FAR from dull and uninspiring. I have only had one tour of the country and left wishing I could stay and live there. The land is spectacular. The history is truly amazing. And the people were second to none. Scotland may not be New York, but New York is not all it's cracked up to be, either.

Trump does have a reputation for "big...Big...BIG", and I would hate to see glass towers and completely out of character architecture destroy Aberdeen. Trump's ego can get out of control. Just say no if he can't design something that looks like Scotland.

Rab/5 - I can certainly understand you skepticism - but it's not THAT bad. Contracts can be laid out - and if the locals will take the jobs, you won't have to walk around looking sour all the time.

Get Real. The problem with all you anti-Trump people is that you are green with envy. Anyone that shows an ounce of enterprise is considered to be an Al Capone or worse.
Profit is the only motive to drive enterprises forward anyone who thinks otherwise should send back their Giro cheque.
Profit is not a dirty word children.
Anyway how many of you who have criticised this development have actually been to the relevant links on the Menie Estate? D*** few I bet.

Be sure to look at #21. Trump can get out of control. As I said in #17 it is a gorgeous envionment - would love to have a duel citizenship. Progress is one thing. The type of progress is another. Trump will pocket money and have his way. You need controls, you guys living in Scotland need some US Trump history.

I don't doubt this demand for luxury properties exists, I just want to know why on earth the council would be opposed to exploiting it?

They should have been proactively looking for developers to build these quality homes and encourage weathly individuals to move in. It'll benefit all as the tax take will go up and more will be spent in local stores.

Restricting development to so-called 'affordable homes' - in other words, cheap, subsidised housing - is helping no one.

Build good quality homes for those who can afford to pay for it themselves. They will then leave other properties for those who earn less.

to the aberdeen area,,you people should be jumping for joy that Trump is looking to bring jobs to your part of the country, it can only be in the best interests of scotland, dont cry about the lack of jobs for the people then on the other hand trying to stop a great opportune moment in time to improve aberdeens good fortune being chosen for this building improvment and new tax base,, so wake up aberdeen ,, other parts of the country would be so happy to be in your place,,,,,jock h.

As a New Yorker I can tell you having "The Donald" as an investor in your community is a mixed blessing. He never and I repeat has never built homes that the average working person can afford. Visit New York, Atlantic City and Florida if you want to see for yourself. Those 250 homes and apartments will be very costly. Sure it will bring jobs which will give locals an income. Temporary construction jobs then after that probably a few hundred permanent ones, but do you really want low paying work as housekeepers, grounds workers, retail sales clerks? And please excuse my horrible geography, but doesn't Scotland already have an outstanding golf course? As always these decisions should be left up to the people who actually live in the community but please think long and hard about it.

No wonder I never hear 'great news' about Scotland's development..I am forever hearing about how well Ireland is doing, and fed up about it. Of course Trump's project is a 'for-profit enterprise', and it is because he is proud of his Scottish-born Mother he chose the area; No wonder my father decided to emigrate to Canada/USA with his family of six. He didn't see a great future in Aberdeen.
I am involved in real estate in capitalist California, in silicon valley no less; Oh how I've wished that Scotland had the american dollars pouring into the economy like Ireland has. But of course if the Scots don't want it, then you should keep putting up roadblocks like wind tunnels, to face the ocean views instead of Golfers.
Trump's plans call for a Victorian-style 500 room Hotel, that doesn't sound like a Glass N.Y. Tower block to me.
It is up to the local planning council to work with his NY development team to come up with a suitable Scottish-style edifice. Look at how well Andrew Carnegie did at Skibo Castle!! He made his fortune in USA and returned to spend some of it in the Highlands.
Everyone I have met here in the last 25+ years always wants to visit Scotland 'one day'. With Trump's involvement, the unbelievable publicity he always generates will surely benefit Aberdeenshire, instead of the better known cities of St. Andrews and Edinburgh where most overseas' visitors spend their tourists' dollars.
Some high-end upscale new homes with views will absolutely be good for the economy.
Now what can we do about the weather !!

Regina #26

The UK has rules about minimum wage rates, they might not be great, but at least people can make up their minds whether to take the jobs or not. We don't have people working in restaurants, hotels and bars for tips only, unlike the USA.
People should have a look at Donald trumps website where he invites business propositions. If Scotland turns him down there will be plenty of places that will not be so high and mighty.
What, are people in Scotland so scared of change?

If you are not a Mason or Council employee you are without a speak!

Scotland has no real voice. (forget any of your Scottish fly-boys)
Anyone trying to make an effort to boost Scotlands revenue gets knocked on the head.

Obviously Mr Trump will be making his own profit, good for him! Surely though, us Scots can also cash in on the benefits a new Golf Course would provide?
Why are we so suspicious of anybody wanting to help?

anyone calling this place 'Scotch land' should be banned...Aberdonians will not get a look in meanwhile they will clear the land of wildlife/flora & fauna so that a few richo's can holiday there. MMMMM...can't wait!

Just been reading all the comments regarding
Donald Trump's ordeals on his proposed golf complex at Balmedie.

First of all we have friends in Balmedie and according to them 80% are in favour of the golf
complex.

The writers to your column are generally anti what they call the Yanks. This is disturbing to me and I am not a YANK but a Scots Canadian.

Liked remarks though by Cathereine,Jim, and Doug~~ Good to see positive attitudes are still is alive !!!

Does it matter Who owns the money aanyway and I feel that this development in Balmedie is a good move and will bring financial gains to the area.

Come on get into the 2000s and move ahead.

I am sure Donlad Trump will not wait too long for the coucills to say Aye or Nae~~~ He will move on

If 80% of local residents are with the idea what is the problem here

Mike

Send The Trump,to Iran .They wont be taken in by his coniving ways.He is nothing but a money grabber and doesn't give a damn for the honest working class.This is well noted with his planning of different areas in the USA.
Honest Scots ,wake up and real between the lines.