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Trump to visit ancestral home

9 June 2008 04:58am

Property tycoon Donald Trump is to fly to his mother's former Scottish island home as he prepares to outline the case for his proposed golf resort at a public inquiry.

The billionaire - accompanied by his sister Maryanne - will visit the house at Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis.

The late Mary MacLeod Trump was born on the island before emigrating to the US in the 1930s and died in August 2000 at the age of 88.

During his brief stay, Mr Trump is also expected to discuss plans to renovate historic Lews Castle on the island.

Western Isles Council hopes to re-develop the category A-listed castle into a hotel and museum at a cost of £7.5 million.

Mr Trump is due to give evidence in Aberdeen on Tuesday in support of the resort and housing complex which could transform the coastline at Menie Estate, north of the city.

Announcing the whistlestop tour of Scotland, he said: "I want the public to hear my plans and share my enthusiasm for them.

"I am confident I will be able to demonstrate my passion for this site on which we want to create a world-class development that works in harmony with the natural environment."

Mr Trump's plans have divided opinion over plans to lay part of an 18-hole course on a protected Site of Special Scientific Interest.

The plans - which were refused by Aberdeenshire councillors - include hundreds of holiday homes, a hotel, golf villas and private houses on the site near Balmedie. The public local inquiry is expected to last three weeks at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre.