Plans for mega Loch Lomond Flamingo Land theme park and hotels rejected unanimously
A proposal for a £40 million development on the banks of Loch Lomond has been rejected unanimously by the park authority's governing board amid concerns over its development.
On Monday evening, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority (LLTNPA) voted to reject plans to build a Flamingo Land theme park on the shores of the loch.
The authority had received almost 175,000 objections, while a church minister told a board meeting at Lomond Parish Church in Alexandria that people had been "duped".
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Plans for the resort in Balloch, West Dunbartonshire, were first submitted six years ago.
The Lomond Banks development, proposed by Yorkshire-based theme park owner Flamingo Land, included two hotels and more than 100 self-catering lodges as well as a water park, monorail and 372 car parking spaces.
The meeting heard only 69 people had written in support of the proposed park since the plans came under examination in May 2022.
Overall, 174,946 objections were received - the majority through a Scottish Green Party campaign, with 834 made to the park authority.
Green MSP Ross Greer, who voiced his objections to the proposed park at the meeting, said the result was a "huge victory" for constituents in Balloch.
He added: "Residents have been united against this daft plan from the start, stepping up to defend one of Scotland's iconic landscapes. After almost a decade, this is the result the community and campaigners deserve.
"I am delighted that the park board have rejected Flamingo Land's destructive plans. Every one of the... people who objected to this application played an important role in securing today's rejection and I am grateful to them all.
"After this defeat, I'm calling on Flamingo Land to drop their plans for good and end this decade-long saga. After years of stress and anxiety for local residents, they must commit to no third attempt.
"Loch Lomond does not need a mega-resort and whatever tweaks they make to these daft plans, they will never go ahead."
Jackie Baillie, deputy leader of Scottish Labour, told the board she is not against a development in the area altogether, but questioned if the current proposal was appropriate.
She told the meeting: "I'm not convinced that economic benefit either outweighs environmental impact, and it is worth remembering in the debate about Scotland's first national park that whilst we understood the need for development, the Sandford principle still applies, so that when it comes to considering the national park objectives, conservation is paramount and outweighs all other considerations."
She added: "Notwithstanding that, there were some improvements on balance, and in light of the officer recommendation, I am maintaining my objection to this development and I hope the national park board do likewise."
Dr Heather Reid, convener of the LLTNPA, said: "This decision was taken following a thorough, robust and transparent process. That process included a site visit, careful consideration of the planning assessment report, and of consultation responses from local and national public bodies, other statutory consultees and representations from members of the public.
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"The board heard from speakers both in support of and in objection to the proposal at a hearing heard in public in Balloch today.
"The application considered by the board today included proposals for a significant amount of development in an area of flood risk.
"It was concluded that no exceptions to national policy would apply which would allow the principle of new built development to be acceptable in these areas. As such, Sepa (Scottish Environment Protection Agency) had objected to the application."
She added: "The role and purpose of national parks is changing. It is recognised that national parks can provide leadership for nature recovery and significantly contribute to becoming a net-zero nation.
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"As such, our National Park Partnership Plan states that future development and infrastructure within the national park should support tackling the climate emergency and maximise opportunities to deliver or enable nature restoration.
"Ultimately the board felt that this proposed development would not do that.
"The application was refused because it does not comply with Scotland's National Planning Framework 4, the Local Development Plan for the National Park or the National Park Partnership Plan."