News Release
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 (1) 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 (2). 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.(3)”
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 (4) 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.”
See evidence to be given by Dave Morris to the inquiry on 25th June.
Ends
Notes
(1) The Ramblers’ Association Scotland is the representative body for walkers in Scotland, and its overall aim is to encourage walking and public understanding of the outdoors by promoting walking for health and pleasure, securing access for walkers, developing path networks and protecting the outdoor environment. Ramblers Scotland fulfils a similar role to the Sierra Club in the USA.
(2) See report by the Guardian newspaper of the first day of the public inquiry, noting Mr Trump’s reactions to public access.
(3) The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 establishes a right of access over most land and inland water in Scotland. This legislation, along with guidance in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, provides a framework for responsible access which secures Scotland’s traditional rights and freedoms. Included in the legislation is a right of passage over all golf courses, providing that those taking access do not interfere with play and keep off the greens.
(4) The case is Euan Snowie and Claire Snowie vs Stirling Council and the Ramblers’ Association. The judgement on this case, which was heard in Stirling Sheriff Court in May 2007, was announced in April 2008. Mr Snowie was seeking a declaration that 40 acres of his estate was land on which statutory rights of access did not apply. The sheriff ruled that only approximately 13 acres around the house would be exempted from access rights, in accordance with arguments put forward by Stirling Council and the Ramblers’ Association. This meant that a gate blocking access to the estate has now been unlocked. See the sheriff’s judgement.
See Ramblers’ Association Scotland’s news release, April 2008
