Loch Lomond development plan dropped
Last updated 17th Sep 2019
Flamingo Land has withdrawn its application for a controversial development on the shores of Loch Lomond which generated record numbers of objections.
The decision comes a week before the a special meeting of Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park board which was expected to reject the application.
The company isn't ruling out a second attempt at the Lomond Banks scheme at Balloch.
Andy Miller, Director, Lomond Banks, said: “We’ve been working hard with all parties, including the National Park Authority, for more than two years to ensure all information relating to the proposed development was made readily available. We know the National Park recognises that the majority of what we propose fits in with the LDP. It is therefore surprising and disappointing that their recommendation report raises previously unidentified concerns and highlights the need for new additional information.
“Our priority now is to fully understand concerns, gather the necessary information and dispel some of the myths that continue to circulate around our ambitions for the site. It is only at this point, we will consider re-submitting our plans to ensure decision makers will be able to take a fully informed decision on this important application.”
Lomond Banks was a joint venture between Yorkshire theme park operator Flamingo Land and Scottish Enterprise, and the designs included plans for a hotel, hostel, restaurants, craft brewery, boat house, leisure centre and six private houses.
In June, West Dunbartonshire councillors unanimously rejected the tourist development following more than 57,000 objections.
West Scotland Green MSP Ross Greer, who was prominent in the campaign against the plans commented:
“Flamingo Land’s environmentally destructive proposal was the most unpopular planning application in Scottish history. More than 57,000 people objected including many in the local community who saw through the spin. Now, following our historic campaign and the National Park's own planning officers recommending a rejection, the developers have, for now, withdrawn their ridiculous plans.
"This is likely a transparent attempt to resubmit with a few small changes, cancelling the near sixty thousand objections lodged to the current proposals. If they think such a cynical ploy will stop our community campaign, they have another thing coming. We will not stop until we have saved Loch Lomond from Flamingo Land's greed.
"It is truly bizarre to see a letter from Flamingo Land's lawyers, essentially labelling thousands of members of the public stupid for having quoted the developer's own Environmental Impact Assessment in their objections. If Flamingo Land don't like what's being said, they shouldn't have proposed such environmentally destructive plans for our world famous national park in the first place."
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