Ministers urged to end ‘sorry saga’ of Flamingo Land proposals at Loch Lomond

The Scottish Government has been urged to end the “sorry saga” of Flamingo Land’s plans for Loch Lomond after the application was called in.

The theme park operator has proposed building more than 100 self-catering lodges, two hotels, a water park and monorail on the site at Balloch in West Dunbartonshire.

Despite the plans having been opposed by local campaigners, the National Trust for Scotland, the Woodland Trust and the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa), as well as the unanimous rejection of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park authority, a Scottish Government reporter approved an appeal from the developer.

Despite Public Finance Minister Ivan McKee saying he would not call in the application – allowing ministers to make the ultimate decision – it was announced on Tuesday night that the Government would intervene given the “national significance” of the plans.

The move comes after the Scottish Greens claimed 55,000 people had written to the Government urging a rethink.

Speaking during a debate on the issue in Holyrood on Wednesday, Green MSP Ross Greer – who has long campaigned against the plans – said: “It is to the credit of all who have campaigned locally and nationally over the last decade, and in particular over the last three weeks, that we have forced this decision.

“I do thank ministers for that change in decision.

“Flamingo Land’s application is of national significance because of the scale of the damage it would do and its location, but also because of the precedent it would set for our whole planning system.

“I look forward to setting out, in detail, the decades-worth of evidence against this mega-resort because I’m sure that when ministers see the damage it will do, they will reject it, end this sorry saga and – once and for all – save Loch Lomond from this greedy developer.”

Meanwhile, Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie – who represents the area – said: “Let me welcome the SNP’s U-turn and tell you why the application should be called in for ministerial determination.

“Firstly, the decision being made by a single, unelected reporter, no matter how good he may be, is a democratic affront,” she said.

Ms Baillie went on to point to the strength of opposition to the development, adding: “Surely, all of this local knowledge, all of this expert opinion counts for something.

“Surely the Scottish Government appointees on the board should be listened to, or the planning officers at the national park with their years of experience.”

Ms Baillie went on to question the impartiality of Mr McKee, as she asked who the minister responsible for the final decision would be.

“Ivan McKee has clearly taken a view and I do not believe it would be appropriate for him to consider this matter,” she said.

The land on which Lomond Banks – the name of the Flamingo Land-backed developer – hopes to build is owned by the Government’s commercial arm Scottish Enterprise, with planning permission as a condition of sale of the site.

Ms Baillie added that any minister who had had involvement with Scottish Enterprise should also not make the final decision.

Responding to the decision by ministers, Dr Heather Reid, convener of the national park’s board, said: “We stand firmly by the reasons for the board’s unanimous decision to refuse the Lomond Banks planning application in September last year and our officers’ submissions made in respect of the appeal process to date.

“We now await further clarification from Scottish ministers on the next steps, and when known, will fully engage with the process in line with our statutory responsibilities as a planning authority.”