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OUTRAGE AS TRUMP ATTEMPTS TO GAG COUNCILLORS

Four Aberdeenshire councillors who are intending to give evidence at the forthcoming Menie planning inquiry in support of the council's decision to refuse Donald Trump's planning application now appear to be victims of an attempt by the billionaire to prevent them from taking part.

A letter written by Ann Faulds of Dundas & Wilson to the senior planning reporter of the forthcoming Menie Estates public inquiry is being seen as an attempt to gag Councillor Martin Ford and prevent him from appearing at the inquiry along with his colleagues Paul Johnston, Alastair Ross and Debra Storr. Dundas & Wilson are presenting the case for the applicant at the Inquiry.

Ann Faulds' letter seeks clarification on Councillor Ford's 'status' to appear at the inquiry as well as that of his three colleagues.

Martin Ford, who used his casting vote as chairman of Aberdeenshire Council's Infrastructure Services Committee to reject the Trump application in November last year, said:

"It would appear that the applicant is now looking for a way to prevent me and my colleagues appearing at the forthcoming Menie inquiry - or to get our status at the inquiry reduced.

"Only yesterday, I was welcoming the news that Mr Trump was intending to appear at the Inquiry himself. I was pleased he was coming because the Inquiry must examine all the relevent issues in a thorough and transparent fashion, and that depends on all sides being heard.

"It would seem, however, that Mr Trump does not want an open debate in which everyone can have their say.

"An Inquiry in which opponents are prevented from speaking will not be seen as fair by very many people in the north-east - even if that is what Mr Trump would prefer.

"Perhaps Mr Trump wants to reduce the number of people at the Inquiry who can cross-examine him."

Martin Ford added: "We were surprised by the letter from Dundas & Wilson for two reasons. Firstly, at the Pre Inquiry Meeting, it was made clear by those representing the applicant that they did not wish to get involved in the debate as to how the Council's views would be represented at the Inquiry.

"Secondly, the meeting of Aberdeenshire Council on 24 April 2008 only reaffirmed the stance adopted at the Council meeting on 12 December 2007. In other words, the position has not changed from that pertaining at the time of the Pre Inquiry Meeting. We therefore see no reason for our status and participation at the Inquiry to be queried now when no objection was raised previously.

Aberdeenshire Council decided on 29 November 2007 to refuse the Menie application because it breached numerous policies in the development plan, especially in relation to housing and environmental protection. This was the Council's final decision as planning authority. It was and is not possible for the Council to change that decision, taken after normal due process.

In addition to attempting to persuade the reporter to exclude the four councillors from the inquiry, in her letter to James McCulloch, Anne Faulds also requests that Councillor Ford's letter to the reporter dated 18 April 2008 be withdrawn as it was written on Aberdeenshire Council headed notepaper. He is entitled to use council paper for corresponding in his capacity as a councillor.

Martin Ford concluded: "Given the wealth and size of the Trump organisation, for them to have their lawyers writing letters querying a local councillor's right to use council paper is petty in the extreme. I see no reason to withdraw my letter of 18 April 2008 as requested by agents for the Trump Organisation."
ENDS

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OUTRAGE AS TRUMP ATTEMPTS TO GAG COUNCILLORS

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