Today was the last day that we heard oral evidence from witnesses. One of the reasons the timetable has moved so quickly is because the Trump team haven't been doing very much cross examination and the Council have done virtually none. Next week we have the two day site visit and two days of closing submissions, so while we're not quite over yet I can see the finish line. I think that might explain why bits of today felt like the end of term - to the point that some witnesses took the opportunity to crack a few jokes during their evidence sessions.
First up was one of the Councillors who was discussing the conditions that might be put on the development - including a suggestion for a fire station. A query from the Reporters prompted the response that the condition had been put in to see if the Trump Advocate was on the ball......as the Councillor was under the impression there had always been a fire station in Trumpton. I can only say that inquiry audiences are probably not the best place to try your hand at stand up comedy.
After that we moved onto the evidence from Sustainable Aberdeenshire - but not before home-made muffins were distributed by one of the Councillors to all of those with concerns about the development (very tasty - thanks). Sustainable Aberdeenshire are a local opposition group and their second witness was a qualified planner and lecturer. I'm not sure if he was deliberately trying to flatter but during cross examination he decided to explain that one of the lawyers on the Trump team was something of a guru of planning law. As the Chief Reporter pointed out - it takes a brave man to introduce a ranking system to a room full of lawyers.
Apart from a bit of a discussion about whether the holiday homes would look like Benidorm or not that about wrapped it up for the day. I get to leave my horrible hotel and come home for the weekend, and even better, next week I get to stay somewhere else rather than the dismal room I've been in so far.