GOLF legend Jack Nicklaus is fighting to stop his plans for a new golf course in Scotland from being bunkered - despite personal attempts to redesign to save some ancient trees.
The Golden Bear, widely regarded as the greatest professional golfer of all time, is behind a plan to create a new 18-hole course in Kincardineshire.
But it is in real danger of being scuppered because of the loss of Ancient Woodland.
Mr Nicklaus has redesigned one hole for the £80 million development at Ury Estate, Stonehaven, to avoid trees and a river.
But Aberdeenshire Council officers have recommended refusal with a "significant" loss of trees classed as Ancient Woodland on a plantation dating back 140 years, a major factor.
"This is a large and rare example of this class of woodland and its permanent loss cannot be adequately mitigated or compensated," said Stephen Archer, the council's director of infrastructure services.
"The wider public benefits of the development do not outweigh this loss, and no mitigation or compensatory planting could justify the permanent loss of this volume of Ancient Woodland.
Jonathon Milne, the director of the FM Group, which is overseeing the project believes the biggest hurdle to overcome is a Forestry Commission objection over an impact to Ancient Woodland.
The Forestry Commission described the area as the "second highest category of Ancient Woodland" and that its loss would be "irreplaceable".
"Whilst the applicant has offered mitigation in the form of soil relocation and compensatory planting, this is not sufficient to offset the loss of woodland," the authority said.
Mr Milne questioned the trees' value and said they would be planting five or six times more trees than they would take down and that the areas would "gain Ancient Woodland".
The project is believed reliant on a 90 home development which would effectively pay for the course.
But Mr Milne accepts that 45 of the 90 homes and three holes will affect the woodland.
"But we are building a pretty unique golf course.
"What is there are birch trees that are 30 or 40 years old that were self-seeded. You wouldn't even chop them down to burn them. They are not of great merit in my opinion.
"It is called Ancient Woodland because of what is in the soil, not the trees, it is ridiculous."
"We are delighted with his design, Mr Nicklaus feels it is a great golf course and we feel it is something that will be a destination for the North East. This will attract people."
A report to councillors says: “Whilst accepting the need and general principle of the enabling development of 90 dwellinghouse to deliver the economic and tourism benefit...the proposed housing far exceeds the definition of small scale development.”
Kincardine and Mearns area committee, which will consider the plan on Tuesday, but it will be referred to a full council meeting on April 28 as it is considered an plan of "regional significance".
Jonathon Milne, director of FM Group, added: “Given that the enabling housing part of this development represents a departure from planning policy, the recommendation to refuse was to be expected.
“However, we are confident that the work carried out by our team and independent experts in addressing the majority of concerns, the overwhelming local support for the development and the significant local, regional and national economic impact will outweigh the negatives.
"The opportunity to create 200 jobs and a new world-cass tourism destination that will generate more than £55 million for the local economy cannot be passed up."
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