Property mogul DONALD TRUMP has urged Scottish officials to grant him permission to build a $2 billion (GBP1 billion) golf resort in Aberdeen, insisting failing to do so would be a "terrible blow" to the country.
The American tycoon is currently in the Scottish city to argue his case for the project to be given the greenlight after coming up against opposition from environmental protestors.
The campaigners claim Trump's luxury 18-hole golf course - which will include a 450-room five star hotel, 900 vacation homes, and 500 luxury homes costing up to $2 million (GBP1 million) each - on the north-east coast of Scotland will cause significant damage to the environment
But Trump denies this is the case.
A public inquiry into the ambitious project began on Tuesday (10Jun08) at Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (AECC), where Trump told the ministers: "People won't play a course if it is environmentally harmful. They don't like it, they don't feel good about it, and they won't play it."
When confronted by claims the plans are not popular with locals, Trump responded: "I see polls showing 93 per cent in favour. You can say what you want, but this is a very popular project..."
Trump went on to claim the resort would be "the world's greatest golf course".
He added: "If you reject this, there will be a terrible blow to Scotland."
Trump needs to secure the approval of Scottish Government ministers and win over the public if he is to secure the planning permission for the golf resort.
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