Donald Trump golf course to escape 'timid' Scottish Government land reforms

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Donald Trump’s controversial Aberdeenshire golf course will be able to dodge “timid” SNP reforms to land ownership in Scotland, it’s been claimed.Labour MSP Mercedes Villalba has accused Scottish ministers of bowing to super-wealthy landowners with watered-down plans that won’t break the rich’s stranglehold on Scotland.It comes as it emerged a group representing the biggest posh estates has lobbied the government about its proposals more than half a dozen times in the last year.Scottish Labour’s Villalba wants to see a “presumed limit” of 500 hectares on large landholdings set in the upcoming Land Reform Bill.That would mean any area bigger than this would be subject to a “public interest test” - to check if there’s a good reason for the land to be held in a parcel that size or if it would be better to break it up or transfer it to community ownership.At 560 hectares, the Trump International Golf Links in Menie would face the test under Villalba’s counter-proposals.The course, built by the former US president’s company in 2012, has been accused of wrecking the surrounding environment, including protected sand dunes.However, the Record understands the Scottish Government will push ahead with plans for a 3000-hectare limit - far larger than recommended by many conservation and community groups.North East MSP Villalba hit out: “The Scottish Government’s proposals for land reform are far too timid and will have little impact.“They’ll only apply to land over 3000 hectares – that’s almost six times the size of Trump International - and they won’t apply to existing holdings, like his.”Villalba last week wrote to Rural Affairs and Land Reform Secretary Mairi Gougeon to demand “clarity” on the government’s plans - after Humza