Greenvoice

Why should you join?

The Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) has joined forces with RSPB Scotland and the Botanical Society of the British Isles (BSBI) to fight for the protection of a nationally important and truly spectacular sand dune system at Menie Links just north of Aberdeen.

SWT originally objected to an application by Trump International Golf Links Scotland (TIGLS) for a golf course and resort development at Menie Estate on 4 May 2007.

On 29 November 2007 Aberdeenshire Council Infrastructure Services Committee agreed with SWT’s objection and refused the application. This refusal was a clear acknowledgment of the unacceptable level of environmental impact associated with the proposal, part of which impacts on Foveran Links Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Indeed, the developer’s own Environmental Statement acknowledges there will be very significant adverse effects on habitats and biodiversity should the development proceed.

Avoiding destruction of the SSSI is of crucial importance. If this site is lost, SSSI’s throughout Scotland will come under increasing threat in the future. SSSI’s and local nature conservation sites (“local sites”) are crucial foundation sites from which to re-build resilient ecosystems. Without solid protection of these hotspots of biodiversity it will be ever more difficult to realise the SWT’s vision of a wider countryside rich in wildlife.

Public Local Inquiry (10 June – 4 July 2008)

Scottish Ministers took the unprecedented decision to call in the TIGLS application in order to further scrutinise the proposal and on 28 February 2008 they announced their decision to hold a Public Local Inquiry. The reason for the "call in" was that the proposed development raised questions of national importance.

The public local inquiry will run from 10 June – 4 July and Jonathan Hughes, Head of Policy at SWT, and Martin Auld, RSPB Regional Director, will give oral evidence from 24–26 June.

As well as oral evidence, written submissions in support of the case not to develop on the SSSI will also be presented to ensure that any consent given to golf course construction on the rest of the site is subject to appropriate planning conditions which protect wildlife.

Re-designed Golf Course

In an attempt to reach a compromise with the developers, SWT and RSPB Scotland commissioned a golf course architect to draw up a routing plan for a championship standard alternative golf course away from the SSSI. The re-design shows it is easily possible to build a top quality links course on the Menie Estate without destroying the SSSI.

Unfortunately, Trump International Golf Links rejected our environmentally friendlier plan and wish to proceed with their proposals, which will cause irreversible damage to the SSSI.

How YOU can help

SWT members and the public can still play a valuable part in helping save the Menie Links by writing to John Swinney MSP and your local MSP urging them to support SWT and RSPB's alternative proposals for moving the golf course off the SSSI.

Parliament Office E-mail:

John.Swinney.msp@scottish.parliament.uk

Please send a copy of your letter and any response to SWT, Cramond House, Cramond Glebe Road, Edinburgh EH4 6NS.

SWT is committed to protecting wildlife from inappropriate development. You too can help protect Scotland's most important designated sites and wildlife by making an online donation.

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