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Ramblers V Donald Trump in possible access row

Does Donald Trump want more privacy in Scotland than that required by Her Majesty the Queen and Mohamed Al Fayed?

Ramblers Scotland Director, Dave Morris, is suggesting that Donald Trump is seeking more privacy at his proposed golfing/housing/leisure resort near Aberdeen than the Queen needs on her Balmoral Estate in nearby Deeside and Mohamed Al Fayed requires on his Balnagowan Estate near Inverness.

Giving evidence on behalf of Ramblers’ Association Scotland in the public inquiry into Trump’s proposed development of his Menie Estate, Dave Morris is expected to say:

“It is astonishing that Donald Trump came to the opening day of this inquiry, on 10 June, and appeared to display little knowledge of Scotland’s right to roam legislation. He appeared to believe that he could establish a gated housing and leisure development with security personnel to keep the public out. Neither did he appear to understand that the public have access rights across any part of the proposed golf course, apart from the greens, so long as they do not interfere with people playing golf.”

Dave Morris emphasised:

“The Trump Organisation needs to understand that right to roam legislation, passed by the Scottish Parliament, provides the Scottish people and all our visitors with rights of access to land and water which are of world class quality. These rights must not be undermined by any real estate developer, however important and well connected. A recent court judgement has confirmed that the public cannot be kept out of estate land by excessive security measures.”

Dave Morris contrasted the Trump approach to the attitude of the Queen and Mohammad al Fayed to public access to their land:

“Right to roam applies to most of Scotland’s land and water, including the Queen’s Balmoral Estate and Mohammad al Fayed’s Balnagowan Estate. If these landowners are comfortable with right to roam then Donald Trump has no business seeking greater privacy on his land, whatever his ambitions.”

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