Human rights at Menie

Many people were shocked when the Scottish Government decided to allow the destruction of part of a SSSI to allow the building of Donald Trump's controversial housing, holiday resort and golf course proposals at Menie.

But matters took a turn for the worse when the Trump Organisation applied for and gained planning permission to extend the resort into five areas not in the Trump Organisation's ownership.    The Trump Organisation then started to discuss the prospect of using compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) to evict families from their homes.

Three families, the Milne's at Hermit Point, the Munro's at Leyton Cottage and the Forbes at MIll of Menie have made it clear that they do not wish to sell.    But on 1st October 2009, by voting down a motion proposed by Cllr Martin Ford, Aberdeenshire Council refused to rule out the use of CPOs against these families.

A YouGov poll commissioned by the Scottish Green Party revealed that 74% are against the use of CPOs at Menie.

Pressure on the Menie families has continued with the Milne family at Hermit Point having trees planted all round their boudnary in an attempt to block them out.  However pince, are not happy growing at the top of a sany escarpment.    The Munro family at Leyton Cottage have had the new access roadway to the club house built on top of a bund in front of their house and will have their hosue surrounded on three sides by the car park to the clubhouse.