Residents of Aberdeenshire may be asked to pay special extra taxes to allow Donald Trump to build and sell his property development at Menie Estate according to a leading Aberdeenshire Councillor.
Proposals for extra council tax levied to pay for the Western Peripheral route will have the consequence that council tax payers will be subsidising the roads that are needed to accommodate the American tycoons property development. Menie Estate only has permission for major housing if the Western peripheral route gets built – and Aberdeenshire tax payers are footing the large part of the bill according to Paul Johnston, the person at the head of the Democratic Independent Councillors on Aberdeenshire Council.
“The purpose of the Western peripheral route is now clearly no longer to provide reduction in traffic chaos, or environmental improvements within the urban heart of Aberdeen but is solely intended to unlock restrictions on property speculation to the north of Aberdeen by hijacking the Energetica concept simply as a ‘growth’ or property development corridor. Prime amongst these is the grossly speculative Menie Estate dubbed Trumpton on Sea by its critics”
“Millions of pounds could be made, but little will be contributed from some developers if it happens. The Western Peripheral Route was there to encourage business but now in reality only is encouraging property speculation by encouraging development from other areas to this northern corridor. Traffic congestion will not be reduced as traffic from this property development will grow to take up the capacity that the new road produces.
So there will be no congestion relief, just more traffic and because it’s all car and lorries – it will contribute nothing towards environmental improvements only increasing levels of poor air quality around Aberdeen.
The Aberdeenshire Councillor has been a vocal supporter of a Western peripheral route in the past where it was just a part of a larger integrated transport scheme for the City; it both produced better access, environmental improvements, reducing car usage overall. However, the proposed extra tax levy on households around Aberdeen is purely for the financial crisis the Council has found itself in for funding the road. The other elements of integrated transport policy have been abandoned as immediate proposals.
“Things like the CrossRail project have been pushed into the long grass” said Councillor Johnston.
“Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City Council should seriously consider a major rethink on Aberdeen’s Transport Planning in the current financial climate. We risk building something that will create more problems that it solves and with greater long term environmental and financial consequences” said Paul.
