Oct 2, 2006, 15:18 GMT
Britain's Prince Andrew has angered conservationists by asking billionaire Donald Trump to build a luxury golf course on an area of "scientific interest" in Scotland.
The royal tried to get the entrepreneur to commit to building the £1 billion golf course - complete with 250 luxury homes, a golf academy, and a five-star hotel - on the Menie estate, Balmedie, Aberdeenshire, during a meeting in America last week.
The area - known as the Foveran Links - is a European Union site of special scientific interest and features 4,000-year-old sand dunes that are home to rare plants, otters, badgers, eider ducks and skylarks.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Scotland have said they will fight the plans if it threatens protected habitats.
Andrew visited Trump Tower during his three-day tour of America as a special representative for International Trade and Investment for Britain, but was unable to gain a full commitment from the tycoon.
Trump said: "I own all the land and subject to getting the approvals, I'll go ahead.
"But if I don't get approval, I'll build some place else. We're talking about building the greatest golf course anywhere in the world and we're talking about $1.5-$2 billion (£800m-£1 billion). Other countries have been after me very much."
John Loveday, chairman of the planning committee on Aberdeenshire council, insisted that royal support will not affect their decision.
He told Britain's The Times newspaper: "As far as Trump's way of getting celebrities and royalty behind this, I can assure you it will make no difference.
"He can bring it on all he wants, we will not be steamrollered into this, even if it means upsetting the royal family."
(C) BANG Media International
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