It had been expected – according to press reports admittedly – that Aberdeenshire Council would lift the threat of compulsory purchase orders being used to evict four families from their homes to pacify Donald Trump’s demand for yet more land for his golf course development on the Menie Estate, near Aberdeen.
Well, so much for expectations. Alas. By 57 votes to six the council rejected that proposal, claiming, according to the BBC that it would be “inappropriate to reject the use of CPOs completely without a full report.” While it’s good that the Council hasn’t yet endorsed compulsory purchase orders, it’s depressing that they remain on the table at all and one must fear that, when or if push comes to shove, the council will eventually approve them.
The development already sprawls over 1400 acres of coastline, but Trump now says he needs more land on the edge of the development even if this means evicting residents from their homes.
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