Chris
Without going to the bother of measuring the acreage of Trumps course lets assume its somewhere in the region of 200 acres. Lets also assume between the tees, fairways, greens and "stabilised areas" that they account for at least half that area. Thats 100 acres of a precious eco-system that no longer exists. I could be out by as much as 20 or 30% in that estimate, who knows, however its a fair chunk of ground. Other than perhaps Trumps public relations guy, who wouldn't reckon that is significant ?
The question (at least to me) is really about what you get in return for giving that up and is it worth it. To answer that you have to first quantify what you're getting ie. economic benefit, jobs etc. From what I've read on it, and what I've heard, the numbers talked about are fantastical and have got ever more fantastical with the economic benefit being first half a billion dollars, then half a billion pounds, then a billion dollars and eventually a billion pounds, and no one seems to challenge it. Unfortunately that also includes the planning authority doing absolutely no due diligence either. Then there's the projected number of jobs. Again, who asked the question "eh Donald, exactly where are those jobs going to be..........and why's your nose getting longer ?" When you weigh this project up, it was never anything more than a local housing/hotel development promoted by an international celebrity that at best has dubious benefits. The only national significance that this development has is to make Scotland's planners and politicians a laughing stock.
Was it worth it ? Not in my opinion.
Niall