PRESS RELEASE
RELEASE DATE: 10th December 2009
SOURCE: MEMAG Secretariat
CONTACT: Dr Mark James
Tel: 01350 727484
Email: info@memag.org.uk
TITLE: MENIE GOLF LINKS ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY GROUP LAUNCHED
The Menie golf links environmental management advisory group (MEMAG) met for the first
time on 7th December. Established as part of the planning consent granted by Scottish
Ministers for the Trump International golf links, MEMAG is a wholly independent body
which is responsible for providing impartial scientific advice to Aberdeenshire Council and
the developer to help minimise the environmental impact of the development on the dune
and links system.
Members of MEMAG include, representatives of Aberdeenshire Council the Belhelvie
Community Council, Scottish Natural Heritage, the Scottish Environment Protection
Agency as well as Trump International Golf Links, Scotland.
The independent Chairman of MEMAG, Professor William Ritchie, is an internationally
recognised expert in coastal geomorphology and has had a long standing interest in the
dune systems of Scotland and elsewhere.
The members of MEMAG are pleased with the outcomes of the first meeting which marks
an important step forward in fulfilling its advisory remit. This remit is primarily concerned
with commissioning a series of applied environmental research and monitoring projects, all
of which will help guide the construction and operation of the golf course. The cost of the
projects commissioned by MEMAG will be borne by Trump International Golf Links,
Scotland.
MEMAG is also establishing a subcommittee with three independent scientists who will
define, and subsequently assess the validity of, MEMAG’s advice and its monitoring
programmes. This committee will ensure that the work of MEMAG will be transparent,
credible and impartial.
Further information on MEMAG can be found on the recently launched website:
www.memag.org.uk. It is intended that in due course the records of MEMAG and the
outputs from its work will be placed on the website and be publicly available.
END

 NOTES TO EDITORS:
MEMAG is the Menie Environmental Management Advisory Group.
As set out in the conditions for planning consent, the remit of MEMAG is to provide advice
to the developer; Trump International Golf Links, Scotland (TIGLS) and Aberdeenshire
Council on:
•

'best practice' environmental management and operation;

•

monitoring of (the dune and links) environment including ecology;

•

the minimisation of unanticipated adverse changes in addition to those already
recognised in the main Environmental Impact Assessment that accompanied the
application for outline planning permission;

•

full compliance with the relevant conditions attached to the outline planning
permission and related reserved matters' approvals;

For the avoidance of doubt, MEMAG operates as an advisory body only and will not have
the power to veto any proposal or action proposed by TIGLS or Aberdeenshire Council.
The Council as planning authority will remain responsible for the statutory development of
the site.