Council support for Trump illegal, planner claims
21 Apr 08
Objector agues that Aberdeenshire bound by decision to reject golf development
An objector to US billionaire Donald Trump's application for a £1 billion golf resort in Aberdeenshire has accused the local authority of breaking the law by backing the project at the pending public inquiry.
Permission for the project was refused when Aberdeenshire Council's infrastructure services committee voted to reject it, despite another committee and a majority of the full council being in favour. The application was then called in by the Scottish Government and a public inquiry is to be held in June under a government-appointed reporter.
The council still wishes to support the development, but town and country planner John Agnew, representing the objectors Sustainable Aberdeenshire, has written to the reporter to argue that the council is obliged to follow the last decision it made as a planning authority. He claims that it would be unlawful, irrational and a procedural impropriety for it now to back the plans.
It is understood that the council has also been advised that its vote in favour of the project after it was called in by the government separate has no legal effect.