US businessman Donald Trump is understood to have been heavily criticised by Aberdeenshire Council after he repeatedly breached planning rules.

According to The Scotsman, the breaches relate to the 67-year-old's controversial golf resort at Menie.

Mr Trump recently submitted an application to build a second course in Aberdeenshire, but it is understood he has also applied for planning permission with the local authority five times in the last 18 months for construction work already carried out. He has now been asked to submit a sixth request for retrospective permission.

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The applications for the Menie Estate on the Aberdeenshire coast include a car park, a temporary clubhouse, two 21-bedroom guest houses, offices, a fountain, two illuminated signs and a large earthen embankment.

It is thought five have been approved, but the sixth remains outstanding.

Recently, the Council's Formartine Area Committee agreed to contact the Trump Organisation to express their "dissatisfaction with the number of retrospective planning applications".

Independent Councillor, and the Committee's Vice-Chair, Paul Johnston, said: "It is highly unusual for a developer to so obviously ignore planning legislation time and time again with serial breaches requiring action."

Mr Johnston added that the latest retrospective application related to the car park, lighting and large embankment would impact on locals, but a majority of the committee agreed permission could be granted as long as the lighting was reduced and embankment lowered.

George Sorial, the Trump Organisation's executive vice-president, claimed no work was carried out without permission.

(JP/CD)