Flamingo Land must withdraw application following landmark officers report
Flamingo Land must withdraw its destructive mega-resort proposals for Loch Lomond, says Scottish Green MSP Ross Greer following a landmark report by Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park officers recommending that the application be rejected.
The 188 page report, published today, will be considered by the board of Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park at a public hearing on Monday 16 September, concluding with a final vote on the application.
Over 151,000 people have already lodged objections to the controversial proposal using a campaign portal set up by the Scottish Greens, making it by far the most opposed planning application in Scottish history. Objectors include the National Trust for Scotland, Woodland Trust, Ramblers Scotland and Balloch & Haldane Community Council.
The garish proposal would see 104 woodland lodges, two hotels, a waterpark, monorail, 372 car parking spaces, shops, staff accommodation and more crammed onto the banks of Loch Lomond at Balloch.
When an equivalent report on Flamingo Land’s first application in 2019 recommended that it be rejected, the Yorkshire theme park operator withdrew their plans ahead of the scheduled hearing.
Mr Greer said: “This devastating report is surely the end of the road for Flamingo Land’s ludicrous plans. After dragging this sorry saga out for a decade, they now need to withdraw the proposal and leave Loch Lomond alone. Today is a huge victory for our campaign.
“For almost a decade I’ve worked with residents of Balloch to stop Flamingo Land from wrecking their community. This mega-resort would simply overwhelm the local area and scar one of Scotland’s most iconic natural landscapes. I’m incredibly proud that the detailed objection we submitted has clearly influenced this report and the recommendation to reject.
“Over 151,000 people have already joined us in saying no to these daft plans, with hundreds more doing it every day.
"It is utterly staggering that Flamingo Land has spent years ignoring the clear opposition of the local community and of people across Scotland. They have chosen to inflict so much stress and misery on local people. Now it is time for them to walk away and accept that they have lost.”
