"I don't recall either development having a website that rubbished opponents, politicians and anyone else raising concerns but maybe I missed them."
Niall -
You have used words like "exaggerated claims," "histrionics," "confrontation," "concerted PR," and "confrontation" to describe the behavior of the Coul Links developers. Now you refer to a website that rubbishes opponents.
Here is the website of the Coul Links developers: https://www.coullinks.co.uk/
If you can find examples there of any of the behavior you have claimed, please identify them for us.
DT
David -
The developers may have also wanted to have a response to the aggressive and, in many cases, erroneous claims of the organized entity, "Not Coul":
http://www.notcoul.com/I believe one of the supposed "leaders" of this movement, Tom Dargie, was the ecologist hired by the Trump Organization to oversee permitting and approvals in Aberdeen. It seems that he may be seeking to wash the "Trump stain" off his soul in Embo currently. I would imagine that he has had great trouble sleeping and defending his reputation over the past several years as he gladly took Trump's (Russian..;-) money before suddenly developing a conscience now that a project is under consideration where he is not being compensated.
The two projects are apples and bananas.
Trump just sees his course as an asset to generate income for the Trump Organization. Or, in this case, losses to offset gains at Mar-a-Shag-o and Trump DC Hotel....;-)
One of the developers of Coul Links has been investing
his own money in the area for over 7 years. Has finished two projects already that
employ ~50 local residents. He also has purchased property and lives in Dornoch and is a member at RDGC.
As you know better than almost anyone here, the locals approve of Coul Links by 90%+. If they did not, the developers would not proceed.
The most vehement detractors of the project are those who sit behind computer screens from hundreds or thousands of miles away and project their predetermined opinions (via the internet...AKA "trolling") on others before returning to eCommerce shopping on Amazon....;-)