New protest amid Donald Trump's arrival over golf plan
- Published
Michael Forbes has refused to sell up to Donald Trump
A group dedicated to stopping Donald Trump's golf project has said it has put a stumbling block in the way of the bid to buy extra land for the resort.
Tripping Up Trump has bought some of the land belonging to Michael Forbes, one of the residents refusing to sell.
The Trump Organisation said the move would have no impact on the project.
The latest twist came as Mr Trump flew in to Aberdeen to talk about his controversial seaside golf resort plan at Menie.
The American tycoon revealed the total cost of the project was likely to be nearer £750m, and announced the beach where the course is to be built would be named the Great Dunes of Scotland.
'A masterpiece'
He wants to create the "world's greatest golf course" in Aberdeenshire.
The billionaire, and his son Donald Trump Jnr, arrived at Aberdeen Airport on Monday morning to speak to the media.
Mr Trump said: "This will be a masterpiece when it's completed."
He will spend the coming days viewing the site and the project's development
Tripping Up Trump said the new land deal with Mr Forbes was known as The Bunker.
It has bought an acre of land in what it calls the heartland of the planned Trump golf resort, and said the development cannot go ahead in its current form without access to it.
'Lost the battle'
The group said that by putting the names of hundreds of protesters on the title deeds, it would create a massive legal headache for the Trump Organisation and Aberdeenshire Council if they were to pursue a compulsory purchase order for the site.
Mr Forbes said: "Tripping Up Trump now own a piece of my land in an effort to help protect my family and the other families worried by the threat of compulsory purchase.
"Trump lost the battle for public opinion long ago, and he's now lost any chance of bulldozing our homes."
The Trump Organisation said they were not worried by the land move, and claimed Tripping Up Trump had no credibility.
The master plan for the resort will be considered by Aberdeenshire Council later this year.