Oil tycoon Sir Ian Wood has been treated "shabbily and with total disrespect" over the transformation of Union Terrace Gardens in Aberdeen city centre.

That is the view of US tycoon Donald Trump, as reported in The Scotsman newspaper.

Mr Trumps golf resort opened in Aberdeenshire last month and he has branded the councillors who voted by a small margin to reject the redevelopment as "small-minded".

Mr Trump said: "It is very sad that Aberdeen City Council rejected Sir Ian Wood's wonderful offer. "

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The scheme would have seen Sir Ian invest £50m to bankroll the £140m transformation.

Sir Ian confirmed yesterday at his oil company’s headquarters that he had formally withdrawn the cash gift he offered the city.

Mr Trump continued: "While Sir Ian has many other places where he can make such generous donations, the city’s residents will now suffer the consequences of a small-minded group of politicians who ignored the will of their ­constituents. They blew a great opportunity. Sir Ian is a wonderful man who has been treated shabbily and with total disrespect."

Sir Ian said he would look afresh at his funding offer within the next 12 months if the council reverses its decision and pledges support for the Granite Web project.

The Scottish Government has also appealed to the city council to rethink its decision.

But Barney Crockett, leader of the council, rebuffed his offer.

He said the vote against Sir Ian's proposals was a "definitive statement on the project".

(NE)