Scottish ministers refuse push to call in Flamingo Land plans

Scottish ministers have rejected a push to call in controversial plans for a resort at Loch Lomond.

The Government’s reporter approved planning permission in principle last week, subject to 49 planning conditions for the proposals at the beauty spot, which had previously been unanimously rejected by the national park authority and been subject to more than 150,000 objections.

Lomond Banks – owned by the Yorkshire-based theme park operator Flamingo Land – had appealed against the decision to reject the plans, proposed to be at Balloch, West Dunbartonshire.

The proposals would see the building of 104 self-catering lodges, two hotels, a water park and monorail, but have been opposed by local campaigners.

Final permission is subject to the satisfaction of all 49 conditions and a legally binding agreement between Lomond Banks and the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority.

Following the decision, ministers have been urged to “call in” the application, a process which allows ministers to intervene in planning applications.

Asked by Scottish Green MSP Ross Greer – one of the leading campaigners – about the issue, public finance minister Ivan McKee said: “As the appeal remains live, members will understand it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the specifics of the proposal.

“However, I do recognise that many people have a keen interest in the reporter’s intended decision on this planning appeal.

“Given the very technical planning issues raised in this case and the high level of public interest, I consider that it’s appropriate that objective planning judgment is applied in this case.

“And for that reason, I do not intend to re-call this appeal.”

Responding, Mr Greer said he was “incredibly disappointed” with the decision, pointing to a previous decision by the Alex Salmond-led Scottish Government to intervene and overturn the proposals made by President Donald Trump for a golf course in Aberdeenshire.

“Flamingo Land’s mega-resort proposal was opposed by a record 155,000 people,” the Green MSP said.

“Objectors included the National Trust for Scotland, the Woodland Trust, Ramblers and our national environment watchdog Sepa (Scottish Environmental Protection Agency).

“The national park’s own experts recommended refusal and their board unanimously rejected it on the basis of flood risk, loss of nature, biodiversity and a conflict with the aims of the national park as set out in law.

“This has all now been overturned by an official.

“Does the minister understand why it looks like the profits of a theme park operator have been put ahead of Scotland’s national interest and our world famous natural environment?”

The minister said the objections Mr Greer laid out were dealt with in the report published last week, adding: “He should go and read it, he should go and look at those 49 planning conditions and then reflect on the reality of the decision that the reporter has reached.”

Local MSP and Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie also urged ministers to step in, saying the nearby A82, which runs along the Loch’s western shore, “has insufficient capacity” to deal with current levels of traffic, “so Flamingo Land will make the position worse”.

“The minister will know the reporter’s decision does fly in the face of expert evidence, the unanimous decision of the national park, the view of Sepa and, indeed, the overwhelming majority of local people,” she said.

“I am bemused that the reporter’s opinion outweighs all these ministerial appointees and all these expert agencies and indeed the view of my local community.”

The minister repeated his call for Ms Baillie to read the report.

The comments come after the Woodland Trust urged the minister to meet with them.

“Significant new development like this will expose the woodlands and their wildlife to indirect impacts that will both immediately, and gradually, degrade the ecosystem,” Woodland Trust director Alistair Seaman said in a letter.

“These woods are sensitive sites that are vulnerable to change and the wildlife species that rely on them are often slow to adapt to change.”

Responding to the Woodland Trust’s letter, a Scottish Government spokesman said: “An independent reporter has issued a decision intimating that he is minded to grant planning permission in principle for the proposal subject to 49 planning conditions subject to a legal agreement being reached between the national park authority and developer to secure the employment and environment issues that are set out in the Lomond Promise.

“As the appeal remains live, it would not be appropriate to comment further on the merits of the proposed development.

“The Planning Minister has received the Woodland Trust’s letter and will respond to the charity.”