The Threatened Families

Michael Forbes

- Threatened homeowner

Join us in the bunker and help protect my family and the other families worried by the threat of compulsory purchase.

Cameron McNeish

- Wilderness hiker, backpacker, author and broadcaster

I've been extremely concerned how a Site of Special Scientific Interest can be reduced to yet another piece of real estate when someone comes flashing enough money. I'm even more concerned when that person tries to obtain compulsory purchase orders to remove people from their homes against their will. Will Donald Trump ever learn that not everything has a cash value - that there is such a thing as aesthetics, love of a home, a love of wild land and most important of all, a connection with an area of landscape that money can't buy? So far Aberdeenshire Council and senior Government politicians have acted in an abominable manner - it's high time attention is turned to the residents of Menie Estate and the stress that the Trump organisation and their profit making plans are having on ordinary families.

David Puttnam CBE FRSA

- Film Producer and Politician

This saga is the real life version of a film I made over 25 years ago, Local Hero. Thankfully, Local Hero had a happy ending when the American developer came to his senses and withdrew with dignity. It would be great if Donald Trump would watch it. Compulsory purchase orders for this kind of project would set a very dangerous precedent for all of Scotland.

Robin Harper MSP

I decided to be a deed holder of this land as an investment in fairness and in the environment. Also to show that even minnows can challenge the rich and powerful. Occasionally the Law is on our side. We cannot allow ourselves to be bullied and trampled on by someone who is so rich that he has lost touch with the realities of life, lost touch with the way real people feel, and is so insulated from humanity that he cannot even begin to understand why we are all so upset.

Gordon Roddick

- Co-founder of The Body Shop International.

It is time to draw a line in the sand and not let the bully boys ride roughshod over decent people. Trump, like Murdoch, cares nothing for integrity or decency. I am happy to engage in action that will send them back to where they belong.

Dr Adam Watson

- 'Mr Cairngorms', ecologist, mountaineer, author, fighter for the environment and recipient of the John Muir Lifetime Achievement Award

I've decided to help prevent Aberdeenshire folk from the harassment and threat of removal from their homes, merely to satisfy a private developer who asserts he now wants their land.

Dr Eleanor Anderson

- Retired Head Teacher, Aberdeenshire

I decided to become a deed holder of the plot in order to ensure that it is clear to the Trump Organisation that the properties are not for sale. They made it clear that the plots are not essential for the development of the golf course, hotel and related gated community. This should give the residents an increased sense of security and the Trump Organisation an excellent opportunity to behave in a gracious manner to their new neighbours.

Karen McKenzie

- Aberdeenshire business woman

It’s a no brainer! CPOs are for (public) needs – not (profit- driven) wants. Ethical conduct in business and environmental responsibility is probably written into the company policies of the businesses that support Trump’s development for their own gains.

We should together show Trump that we will not learn from his business methods and not support him against local residents.

Caroline Lucas MP

- Leader of The Green Party

When confronted by a developer like Trump who thinks it is OK to trample over anything and anyone that gets in his way, it is important to fight back. So, I am joining with others to very deliberately get in the way of what amounts to an incredibly damaging vanity project. By standing alongside the people of Aberdeenshire who rightly refuse to have their rights and their environment pushed aside, I hope to send a very clear message to Donald Trump – this community is not giving in!

Mickey Foote

- Businessman, Aberdeen

To conspire with private capital to overshadow, and ultimatley remove an individual's human right to the ownership of land, in the persuit of convenience and profit, is immoral and unsustainable.

Rohan Beyts

- Social Worker, Trustee John Muir Trust

The treatment of the local people who do not want to sell their homes also shows arrogance by Mr Trump and his organisation. I want to show my support for Molly, Michael, Sheila, Susan, John and their family, David and Moira and not let the Trump Organisation force them out of their homes. The Trump Organisation firstly tried to obtain these homes by posing as ordinary individuals. When this didn’t work they stated at the Public Inquiry that these homes were not necessary for the success of the project. What other lies have been told?

Murdo Mackay

- Service Engineer

How is it that the words of Robert Burn’s poem "Parcel of rogues in a nation" can be as appropriate today in 2010 as it was back in 1791.

WE ARE BOUGHT AND SOLD FOR DONALD TRUMP’S GOLD
SUCH A PARCEL OF ROGUES IN A NATION

Have we learnt nothing?

Aberdeenshire councillors and Alex Salmond should hold their heads in shame.

Martin Glegg

- Filmmaker and Teacher

Donald Trump originally said he would build around Michael Forbes and the other families; he even gave them personal assurances that this would be the case. To go back on his word and to try to influence the council to use compulsory purchase orders for a housing and golf complex is taking things too far. Its’ to go down a dangerous road, these people have been living in "Menie" for years and years and don’t wish to leave.

Katherine Edwards

- Nanny

I was born in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and have lived in the same house in Chapel of Garioch all my life. Balmedie beach is the nearest to our home and we visit it and the Menie Dunes very often. I am supporting the families who might face eviction by Aberdeenshire Council and Donald Trump because I believe everyone should have the right to stay in their own home, wherever it is.

Margaret Wallace

- Research Technician

I feel that it is wrong that here in Ellon District, Aberdeenshire Council may use compulsory purchase powers to remove people from their homes for a private development. This would set a very worrying precedent where no home would be safe. The next one under threat could be mine… or yours!

Margaret Mutch

- Retired

Im from Aberdeenshire and I belive it would be a travesty of justice if the council granted CPO's for a private speculator. This not for a hospital or a school but for a golf course. I'm glad im doing my bit to support Michael Forbes and all the other families.

Ed Wardle

- Adventurer / Filmmaker

I was born and brought up in the Aberdeenshire countryside and I know the northeast coastline well. When I first heard of the Trump golf club proposals I couldn't believe that the destruction of such a beautiful and wild piece of Scotland, an area officially designated as an 'area of scientific interest' and an important habitat of rare wildlife was even a possibility. The reasons for the proposals to be refused are all too obvious.

I then heard that residents of the area would be thrown out of their homes and off their land so that the proposals could go ahead. It is financially driven insanity and sounds like something from medieval times that I still can't quite believe is happening. Is Scotland really that strapped for cash that it would sell its residents homes and rights for cash?

I stand up as someone who knows the value of our fast dwindling wild places and say 'No' to Mr Trump's proposals, 'No' to his destruction of an important area of Scotland's wilderness for another golf course and 'No' to throwing people from their homes for any reason.

Paul Young

- Actor and TV Presenter

I do not think compulsory purchase orders should be used for the profit of a private company and we must avoid this precedent. Would you like to be evicted if I thought I had a business opportunity that needed your land? If not, please support this campaign.

Raymond Davidson

- Aberdeenshire Farmer

Taking the natural resources and their seeming inexhaustibility was and is the biggest mistake of human thinking.

Sean Ashley

- Social Care

Everyone should be allowed to live in a fair, honest and democratic society. None of these values are shared by the Trump Organisation. As I was born in Aberdeen and have lived in the north east all my life, I want to protect my homeland from being ruined, and that is why I am supporting the Bunker.

Graham Sharp

- Doctor of Civil Engineering.

In Ellon, 3 generations of the Sharp family say with a smile "No thank you, Mr. Trump”

Mike Forbes

- Car body paint Technician

My wife Karen and I, with our twin boys Marcus and Lennon are glad we can help the people of Menie.

Arthur Vincent

- Student of Aberdeen

I have been living in the North-East for four years now. Since my first visit to Scotland with my family in 2000, I fell in love not only with the people but also with the landscapes and the wildlife of Scotland. Like several thousands other international students, I call Aberdeen home.

Scottish planning Law states that Compulsory Purchase Orders are only meant to be granted for projects which have clear public benefits, not to profit a private development.

Because I believe in the Law, I want to show solidarity with Michael Forbes and his family, and all the other home-owners under threat of CPOs. I am One of Menie...

Fiona Hardie

- Cleaning Business

I am supporting the bunker to help my family on Menie. TUT and everyone associated, are passionate about what they are involved in doing. I feel positive that our bunker is something great and worthy in this desperate circumstances. I will do all I possibly can to help the group who are doing so much to help the landowners.

Alastair McIntosh

- Scottish writer, academic, activist and Aberdeen graduate

Our government should be bringing the land back to the people of Scotland, and not letting it go to men like Donald Trump who express the hubris that destroys the Earth.

Caroline Kemp

- Aberdeen graduate

Donald Trump is a bully - someone needs to stand up to him.

Stuart Glegg

- Designer

I was brought up and have spent most of my life in Aberdeenshire, but feel that is irrelevant. When injustice is happening anywhere in the world we should stand up against it.

Evicting the families from Menie values private profit above the people. That's something I believe is wrong. We should stand together and say NO.

Lisa Leith

- Walks With Dogs

Walking amongst the dunes and on the beach is practically a daily occurrence for me and has been for the past 20 years. I feel very privileged to be able to appreciate it. This area is a beautiful but delicate balance of nature, whose fate is in the hands of Aberdeenshire Council. They must do the job they are entrusted with which is to protect us from those who try to impose their sad reflections on our precious landscape and kick people out of their homes in the process.

John Morrison

- Retired

It would be a sad day for Aberdeenshire if the council went down the route of compulsory purchase. The Bunker is an excellent way of standing alongside our fellow countrymen and woman under the threat of being cleared from their homes.

I'm proud to come from Aberdeenshire and proud to now own a part of this land.

Allan Fyfe

- Local furniture maker and businessman

I am supporting Michael Forbes and the other families in their fight for justice because I feel that through the fog of dollars, celebrity and wishful thinking a simple tale of greed and institutional myopia is being ignored.

Donald Trump bought this land in the full knowledge that it wasn't all his and made an application for planning permission claiming that the existence of these other owners didn't matter - it does now!

David Milne

- Threatened resident

I am really pleased to see that the bunker initiative is going ahead, this is a very strong way for the people of the world to show their support for the residents, who like myself, are being threatened to make way for a commercial leisure development.

If this immoral and unethical compulsory purchase goes ahead then every householder in this country is at risk of losing their home to an unscrupulous developer. Help us, and protect yourself for the future sign up for the bunker that will keep the threat at bay.

Sue Edwards

- Local Environmentalist

As if ruining a rare dune system was not enough, Trump is hoping to influence Aberdeenshire Council into throwing folk out of their homes and land on the Menie estate in order to benefit his commercial development. It is time people realised that the only person standing to make a fortune out of this 'resort' is Donald Trump himself. No-one should have to lose their home to line the pocket of a New York property developer. We have to stand up to him.