20140926_R4

Source: BBC Radio 4: Today Programme

URL: N/A

Date: 26/09/2014

Event: Donald Trump: "a minor revolution going on in Scotland" against wind farms

Credit: BBC Radio 4: Today Programme

People:

• Donald Trump: Business magnate and investor
• Justin Webb: Presenter, BBC Radio 4 Today Programme

Justin Webb: ... and when you look at golf, generally speaking, at the moment, how worried are you about the economics of the game? Because it is in a bit of trouble, isn't it.

Donald Trump: Well, I love it. I love the game and I actually love the economics of the game, because I bought many, many clubs over the last three or four years that I would have never been able to buy, and... You know, I have a tremendous success in Aberdeen. And, of course, as you know, I bought Doonbeg in Ireland, which we're proud of, and I also - most importantly, perhaps - bought the great Turnberry. And I'm going to be spending a lot of money on Turnberry, and we're going to make that the greatest resort of its kind anywhere in the world. And we're going to be going over and making certain little modifications to Turnberry, because for about a 50-year period, as you know, they've been wanting to do certain modifications - there are certain holes that could be even better, although some people consider it the best course there is.

Justin Webb: And if the planning decision on the wind farm off the coast of Menie goes against you, are you going to pull out, there?

Donald Trump: No, I would not pull out, I'd never pull out, I'll never be selling that or anything, ever. But - and we're very proud of it, and we're very proud that, aesthetically, there's no piece of land like this. You know, I would be spending tens of millions of pounds or building something, but I don't want to do that if they build one of these ugly wind farms right next to it - and you can understand that. I think Salmond, you know, had a very, very bad result for him, and I think a lot of people - you know, and I will tell you, I've been told this - that a lot of people were so against his energy policy and his policy on these ugly windmills destroying the beautiful land of Scotland.

Justin Webb: Are you saying one of the reasons why Alex Salmond lost the Referendum vote was his energy policy, was offshore wind?

Donald Trump: Oh, absolutely. Well, onshore wind, too - you have a minor revolution going on in Scotland, because of these wind farms, and if you happen to have one near your house, your house loses at least 50% of the value. So there are a lot of people that voted against, you know, Alex Salmond's energy policy, there's no question about that.