Trump wins latest round in golf turf war

Property billionaire Donald Trump has beaten a major hurdle in his controversial plan to build a £1bn golf resort in Aberdeenshire - much to the fury of local conservationists and a local fisherman, Michael Forbes, who has consistently refused to sell Trump a 23-acre property on the edge of the vast development site.

Members of the Aberdeenshire Council last night approved the planning application for the Trump International Golf Links by seven votes to four.
Trump, who claims the resort will be "the greatest golf course in the world", called from New York to say: "It is a tremendous victory. I'm honoured."

The 1,400-acre resort at Balmedie will include two championship golf courses and a five-star hotel, as well as housing. The tycoon promises it will create 6,000 jobs and bring £60m a year to the region.

However, the plans have yet to be approved by the council's infrastructure committee. Conservationists who say the plans could destroy delicate sand dune systems and rare plant species will not give up their fight, while Michael Forbes will continue to tell Trump to "stick his money".

Meanwhile, TV critics in New York are being sniffy about the "less than stellar" minor celebrities unveiled this week by Trump for his next Celebrity Apprentice TV show. Contestants include Gene Simmons of Kiss, Vincent Pastore who played Big Pussy in The Sopranos, former Playboy playmate Tiffany Fallon and Piers Morgan, once editor of the Daily Mirror. ·