Trump plan wanted surrender says inquiry

ABERDEEN, England, June 25 (UPI) -- A Scottish official opposed to Donald Trump's nearly $2 billion golf resort proposal says the U.S. businessman demanded "the surrender of the planning system."

Aberdeenshire Councilor Martin Ford's comments at a Tuesday public inquiry into Trump's plans resulted in heated exchanges, The Scotsman reported Wednesday. Ford said the wealthy U.S. developer had "behaved in a very unusual way towards the council" when lodging his application, drawing replies of "outrageous" from Trump's attorney, who demanded Ford play no further part in application decisions.

Trump has proposed building two championship golf courses, a five-star hotel, and hundreds of houses at an Aberdeenshire sea-side estate. Most opposition to the plans has focused on the fact that part of a golf course would be built on sensitive sand dunes.

Trump's application was rejected last year by Aberdeenshire Council's infrastructure services committee, of which Ford was then chairman and cast the deciding vote. The proposal has been revisited by the Scottish government, citing the scale of the proposals.

Ford said he stood by his decision, as it would "show the council was serious about wanting changes" from the applicant. But he added "the applicant made it clear that compromises would not be entertained."