PLANS for an offshore wind farm, which has outraged US billionaire Donald Trump, have suffered a major setback after permission for an electricity substation integral to the development was refused by councillors.
The substation was planned for the community of Blackdog where there was stiff local resistance. The Formartine area committee of Aberdeenshire Council yesterday refused the proposal.
The tycoon immediately showed his delight on Twitter, saying: "Alex Salmond suffered a huge defeat by the people of Blackdog. Communities all over Scotland are fighting this loser. Alex Salmond of Scotland may be the dumbest leader of the free world. I can't imagine that anyone wants him in office."
The Scottish Government had approved the 11-turbine European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC) in March. It would not be a commercial wind farm but a testing centre for offshore developers.
The Trump Organisation is convinced it will blight its nearby £750 million golf development at Balmedie and is challenging the Scottish Government's decision in court.
But now the developers have to work out the implications of the council committee's decision to refuse the substation at Blackdog. Some 62 out of 85 local residents objected.
Iain Todd, spokesman for the EOWDC project partners, said: "We are extremely disappointed at the decision.
"We believe this a missed opportunity for the region and that we could have worked with Aberdeenshire Council to agree further conditions to progress the scheme.
"We will give careful consideration to the formal reasons for the decision before we decide our next steps."
The Trump Organisation's petition for a judicial review of the EOWDC is due to be heard at the Court of Session in a fortnight.
The petition was lodged by Trump International Golf Links and The Trump Organisation.
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