4A.12A - Restructuring and Contested Decisions
A study of the strategies used in the restructuring of a rural place, and the contested nature of these decisions within local communities.
Rural regeneration can also be contested. Balmedie is a a village in Scotland, on the coast just north of Aberdeen. Between 2003 and 2012 its population grew from 1850 to 2520 people, an increase of 36%. This is a traditional farming area, with some people employed in Aberdeen's oil industry and many people commuting to Aberdeen for work.
In 2006 Donald Trump, a US businessman and politician elected President of the USA in 2016, bought the Menie Estate in Balmedie. Trump planned to invest £1 billion creating a luxury golf resort (Trump International Golf Links) employing 1200 people and and including a luxury hotel and 1500 new houses. Despite the promised jobs, opposition was extensive:
- Local groups such as 'Tripping up Trump' were set up to oppose the plans, which were seen as too large and intrusive.
- The local council opposed the development as some of it encroached on greenbelt land.
- Scottish Natural Heritage opposed the destruction of sand dunes, some of which are part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
- RSPB Scotland opposed the destruction of habitats for birds.
- Michael Forbes, a local farmer has refused to sell his land to Trump despite being offered £450,000
- Residents objected to the threat of their homes being bulldozed to make way for the development.
In 2007 Aberdeenshire Council turned down Trump's planning application, but it was approved on appeal in 2008 by the Scottish Government. Trump fought a losing battle against plans for an offshore windfarm opposite the Menie Estate, eventually losing an appeal to the Supreme Court.
By 2016, Trump International Golf Links employed 95 people and some parts of the development have been completed, but the golf course is not open in the winter.
This shows there are many different criteria by which to judge successful rural regeneration:
- At a local scale regeneration can be opposed on environmental and community impact grounds.
- Even in the Aberdeenshire region the promise of jobs, even in large numbers, failed to convince all that large-scale plans are a good idea.
- Nationally (within Scotland) the promise of jobs and investment seems to have swayed the Scottish Government.
- At UK level, targets for renewable energy, i.e. windfarms seem to have 'out-trumped' Trump
Both the locals' objections to Trump's plans and Trump's objection to wind turbines are classic examples of Nimbyism.
Nimbyism (not in my backyard) refers to the fact that most people object to change in their own area, even if they agree with the principle behind the change.