Home > How They See Us > Archives > 2008 > June > 10
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Please, please just tell us he’s not wearing kilts …
Donald Trump, the rapacious New York developer, is in Scotland this week, visiting his roots as part of a charm offensive designed to win approval for a planned $2 billion golf resort.
But so far many of the Scots interviewed by the Times of London dismissed the billionaire’s tour this week of the Isle of Lewis, where his mother was born, as nothing but a PR stunt.
Indeed it came just 24 hours before the Donald’s scheduled appearance today before a public inquiry called to hear evidence about his proposal to build “the world’s greatest golf course” on sand dunes in Aberdeenshire.
The development, which has been condemned by environmentalists because of the alleged damage it would do to wildlife on the 1,400-acre site, was referred to a public inquiry by the Scottish government after local officials rejected it last year.
Ever since he announced his plans to build the resort three years ago Trump, said to be worth at least $3 billion, has spoken repeatedly of the love for Scotland he inherited from his late mother, Mary Ann MacLeod, a native Gaelic speaker who met Trump’s father after emigrating to America as a young woman.
If approved, the project will include a five-star hotel, a golf academy, and 1,000 holiday homes.
