Wednesday June 18th: Well, today we galloped through the witnesses, finished early and won't start again until next week because of various availability issues so we all get to take a bit of a breather which is very much appreciated. We started with a local Councillor who said that he knew when he voted to support the application that he was 'riding a coach and horses' through their own policies but had decided to do so anyway - another vote of confidence for the plan led system. Then we heard from a local businessman who is clearly a huge fan of Mr Trump. He mentioned that over and above the existing hotels in the area there are 2,500 more rooms already in construction, consented or in the planning system in already, and he wasn't quite sure how they would find staff for them all. Nevertheless he is obviously a man who feels this is a welcome development.
Most of the day was taken up by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) witnesses, starting with geomorphology and a fly-through DVD which reconstructed how the golf course will look once built. I think the Trump team described it as a like being on a warped flying carpet flying through the alps......so I think we can assume they didn't like it. During cross examination it became clear that to build the course some holes will need to be built up (by about 7m or so) while others will have to be 'decapitated' (his words not mine) - resulting in sand movements of 'Biblical' proportions. Coupled with the evidence from Mr Trump's golf course architect that this is going to be an almost 'Olympian' site it's shaping up to be quite a golf course.
This witness made it abundantly clear that this site is unparalled anywhere else in the UK. The next witness made it clear that most of the Scottish resource of a particular habitat type (98%) was found only at this location. So it looks like the various elements that need to be weighed in the balance of decision making are becoming pretty obvious.
Next week we don't start until Tuesday - which means that the blog will have to wait until then. However, I have to say hello to some of the Trump team who tell me they've been reading it every day with keen interest. They were also kind enough to congratulate me on a new job I've been given with RSPB Scotland. Thanks, and I hope you all continue to find the blog interesting.