Fresh Trump land bids approved

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Outline planning permission for extra land requested by Donald Trump for his £1bn golf resort in Aberdeenshire has been approved by councillors.

There were several planning applications from the Trump Organisation for private land.

Planners had recommended approval, but there have been dozens of objections to the proposals.

One homeowner, David Milne, said his home was not for sale and he intended to leave "horizontally in a box".

The vote at the Formartine area committee in Ellon on Tuesday was nine in favour and two against.

The company wants to purchase the land - totalling 50 acres - to improve the design of its planned golf resort at Menie, north of Aberdeen.

My home is not for sale, I can't make it any clearer than that David MilneResident

Four of the plots are in private hands with one owned by Aberdeenshire Council.

The move does not force the owners to sell the land to the Trump Organisation.

The decision was welcomed by Mr Trump's son, Donald Trump Jnr, who attended the meeting.

He said the land was critical to the development.

However Mr Milne said: "I'm disappointed but not surprised. Disappointed by the scale of the vote, but not the outcome.

"My home is not for sale, my intention at the end of the day is to leave there horizontally in a box, I can't make it any clearer than that."

'Greatest' venue

Protests were held at the meeting in Ellon about the applications.

One placard stated: "Trump tramples human rights. No clearances."

A petition has been launched by the group Tripping Up Trump against the possible use of compulsory purchase orders.

Mr Trump wants to construct what he had described as the world's "greatest" golf venue.

The plans for two championship golf courses, 950 holiday homes and 500 houses were rejected by an Aberdeenshire Council committee, before then being called in by the Scottish Government and approved.