Loch Lomond: Greens hand in record-breaking objections
Scottish Greens West Scotland MSP Ross Greer was in Balloch with local residents today (20 May) to present over 53,000 objections- a record number for any planning application in Scottish history- to plans for a Flamingoland development on the shores ofLoch Lomond at Balloch.
Yorkshire-based company Flamingoland, best known for a theme park, want to turn around 50-acres of largely publicly owned land into a leisure resort, including a hotel, 125 woodland lodges, a water park and monorail. Most of the land is currently owned by Scottish Enterprise, a Scottish Government agency. It is covered by an exclusivity agreement between the agency and Flamingoland company ‘Iconic Leisure Ltd’, meaning the sale of the land depends on planning permission being given.
Scottish Greens MSP Ross Greer, whose region includes Loch Lomond, has given objectors the opportunity to comment via his website, and so far over 54, 555 individual objections have been lodged. The statutory deadline is tomorrow (21 May) but Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park- the planning authority responsible for deciding on the planning application- have indicated that comments will still be accepted after this date. [1]
Objectors are concerned by the privatisation of public space as well as a number of devastating revelations in the developer’s own environmental impact assessment, including the destruction of ancient woodland, deaths of otters & red squirrels and pollution to running and standing water. Balloch residents have also raised concerns about traffic congestion and the impact on local infrastructure.
Ross Greer MSP said:
“Flamingoland Loch Lomond is now the most unpopular planning application in Scottish history and when you look at their proposals, it’s no surprise why. Local residents have been joined by people from across Scotland in saying that Loch Lomond’s world famous natural beauty should be protected, not sold off for the profit margins of a private developer.
“Time and time again, it’s only the Greens standing with communities when they fight to protect Scotland’s environment against corporate takeover and destruction. Our campaign to save Loch Lomond will continue until the National Park reject these plans and this threat is ended once and for all.”
