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Louts sabotage diggers and pull down fences in latest protest against £1billion venture

Vandals have gone on a wrecking spree at Donald Trump’s £1billion golf resort – with damage estimated at more than £50,000.

On Monday, course staff discovered louts had ripped up hand-planted marram grass and pulled down fences on the course that has caused numerous environmentalist protests and angered nearby residents who object to Trump’s latest venture.

However, 24 hours before, the campaign against the new course at the Menie Estate took a criminal turn, as vandals sabotaged two JCB diggers by filling their engines and tainted 3,000 litres of diesel.

“It’s an appalling act of vandalism on environmentally-sensitive areas,” said Sarah Malone, Trump’s executive vice-president in Scotland.

“We have kept security at the site reasonably modest and we haven’t had any cause for concern until now. Unfortunately, security will now have to be maximised.

However, the Trump Organisation confirmed that the vandalism would have ‘no impact’ on the progress of the venture – which is due for completion in 2012.

However, opponents of the scheme distanced themselves from the destruction, with Tripping up Trump protest group representative Martin Clegg denying any involvement.

“We are a broad movement and we’re working within the law to stop this development going ahead, and that’s the way we will always work,” he said.

“I think these kind of actions can tarnish honest and good campaigns like Tripping up Trump.”

The resort, which will include two championship golf courses, 950 holiday hoes and 500 houses, is expected to boost tourism in the North East and create thousands of new jobs.

 

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Bryce Ritchie is the Editor of bunkered and, in addition to leading on content and strategy, oversees all aspects of the brand. The first full-time journalist employed by bunkered, he joined the company in 2001 and has been editor since 2009. A member of Balfron Golfing Society, he currently plays off nine and once got a lesson from Justin Thomas’ dad.

Editor of bunkered

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