Complaint to be made to police about Trump staff intimidation tactics

Police were called to the Menie estate on Saturday as part of the continuing dispute regarding access after local Councillor, Debra Storr was followed and prevented from leaving the vicinity, despite having the legal right to be there, by an individual claiming to be working for Donald Trump.

The previous weekend, gates into the estate and onto the dunes and beach were locked and, after a complaint, Councillor Debra Storr referred the matter to Aberdeenshire Council's Access Officer. The gates were then re-opened.

But this Saturday, following a report from a constituent that the gates were again locked, Councillor Storr again went to check. She first parked by Leyton Cottage and took the opportunity to walk on the SSSI dunes. Leaving from this point, she found herself followed by a silver car as she drove around the periphery of the estate. When she moved to leave by the track from Mill of Menie, she found her way blocked by the silver car.

The driver of the car later claimed to be part of the estate security but declined to give his name to the local politician. He told Councillor Storr that he had stopped her car as she had been taking photos of the locked gates and that he had called the police. She asked him why taking photos would be grounds for stopping her but got no reply. After about 20 minutes, the police arrived, took details and asked the driver of the silver car to move his vehicle out of the way to let the local politician pass and continue on her way.

Councillor Storr said:

"It was pretty intimidating to be followed by an unidentified car and finally to be prevented from leaving from the Mill of Menie track where I had every right to be. We have laws that are designed to protect the public from this type of thuggish behaviour and as such I intend to take the matter further.

"Claims that the estate did not know who I was are ridiculous. I understand that Neil Hobday, the Trump organisations' man on the ground, came to Leyton Cottage where I had parked while I walked on the dunes and had a good look at it. Neil Hobday has seen my car many times which is very distinctive and which he is aware belongs to me. However, if there was any doubt, there were documents with my name clearly visible on them on the back seat. I can therefore only assume that Neil Hobday may have arranged for the silver car to follow me. The driver of the silver car, even when he blocked my way, made no attempt to talk to me. He stayed in his car at all times. I got out of my car and introduced myself yet he refused to identify himself by name when I asked him to do so.

"Irrespective of who I am, there is a legal right for any member of the public to be there and as such, the behaviour of the individual in the silver vehicle and of Mr Hobday is utterly disgraceful. It was clear to other members of the public who were in the vicinity at the time and who witnessed the incident that something untoward was going on. In particular am very grateful to Mr and Mrs Forbes of Mill of Menie who saw that my way had been blocked and followed me in their Range Rover to find out what was happening and to ensure my safety.

"I believe the Menie Estate staff may have acted unlawfully by intimidating and detaining me by blocking my exit as I legally went about my business and as such I intend to make a formal complaint to police about the incident and the behaviour of the individuals concerned. It is wholly unacceptable that people who have every legal right to be somewhere are intimidated and detained in such a way. It was a very frightening experience. I would hope that the relevant authorities look into the matter thoroughly, and take the opportunity to view the photographic evidence which I intend to supply them with and that they take appropriate action against the individuals concerned." (see editor notes for details on how to obtain copies of the photographs).

Storr added:

"Claims by Neil Hobday and some others that the gates were locked to prevent quad bikes and other such vehicles from gaining access to the dunes are a nonsense when you consider the photographic evidence which I have that clearly demonstrates that small vehicles like these can easily gain access under chains put in place across some of the access points. These claims are even more ridiculous when there is also clear evidence that heavy plant machinery, which could have only come from the estate have been operating on the sand dunes within the past few days."

To access all the photos go to:

http://www.ellonfocus.org.uk/menie/