Aberdeen development - SSSI

Hi,
I received this email concerning the possible removal of more of our wildlife, please follow instructions to trump Donald Trump and his golf course.

Dear All
You may be aware that Donald Trump has submitted a planning application for two golf courses and a very large housing and hotel development at Menie Estate on the coast just north of Aberdeen.
We have, along with a number of individuals and other organisations, including Scottish Natural Heritage objected to this application because it will involve the destruction of about one third of the Foveran Links SSSI. The area was designated because it contains a fantastic example of irreplaceable mobile and static sand dunes and associated biodiversity.
We need your support. There are a number of polls and petitions currently running in local newspapers like the Aberdeen Press and Journal but also on the Downing Street website, links attached below:

Aberdeen Press and Journal (see left hand side of page):
http://www.thisisnorthscotland.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=149212&command=displayContent&sourceNode=232919&home=yes&more_nodeId1=149221&contentPK=19152117
Downing Street Petitions:
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/trumpoff/

We would urge you to visit these polls and vote in support of our position of NO damage to the SSSI and the sand dune system.
Please pass this onto colleagues and others who you feel would be interested in supporting us.
More information about our position can be found on the internet at:
http://www.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/sites/scotland/menie.asp .
http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/details.asp?id=tcm:9-177238

good incentive tim. to war we go armed only with a blunt but heavy camera...

Thanks for the heads up on that, Tim. 2 more on there now for them to ignore as usual.

In cases like this it is sometimes better to have both sides represented instead of just one that continually objects to everything it thinks its members may support.
I am neither for or against this development but in the interests of fair play either get a rep from the other side to add a bit here or else pull the thread
If I want politics I can get them in any flavour I like in non photographic forums
John

Hmmm now let me think what's more important a Site of Special Scientific Interest or a golf course???



Tim

Another 3 here Tim

Tim,

As far as the locals are concerned, the choice is possibly {more likely} jobs versus SSSI, rather than a golf course versus SSSI {which gives the impression this is simply a pastime/hobby versus important habitat}.

From my point of view, i would be extremely sad to see the habitat disappear {especially as there is a string of golf courses along that stretch of coast, from St Andrews to Fraserburgh}, but if i was a young chap living in that area, and struggling to find serious work to pay off a morgage/ support or start a family/remain in the area etc etc etc, the decision may be fairly simple for me.

Hopefully a compromise will be reached eventually

Alan

Heres to that Alan

I have my own views on this, but like John says, this isn't the place to air them. However, you may be interested in the following article.

http://sport.guardian.co.uk/golf/story/0,,2219175,00.html

As John correctly states, this is a non political forum, so I am closing this topic whilst the thread remains fairly calm
Best wishes
Phil

Tim, I will add awareness of this to the UKNP news site.