Flamingo Land threat to Loch Lomond must end today
With hours to go until the final decision on Flamingo Land's controversial plan for Loch Lomond, Scottish Green MSP Ross Greer has urged Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park to reject the destructive mega-resort proposal.
Over 150,000 people have lodged objections to the proposal using a portal set up by the Scottish Greens, making it by far the most unpopular planning application in Scottish history. This record was previously held by Flamingo Land’s failed 2018 application for the same site, which amassed 60,000 objections.
Objectors this time include the National Trust for Scotland, Woodland Trust, Ramblers Scotland, Balloch & Haldane Community Council and environment watchdog SEPA.
The National Park's own expert officers have also submitted a report recommending that the proposal be rejected by their board.
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. The developer’s own traffic assessment estimates that this would add more than 250 cars an hour to local roads at peak times and double tailbacks.
Speaking ahead of the decision, Mr Greer said: “It is staggering that Flamingo Land has pushed things this far. Over 150,000 people and many respected organisations have made clear that their daft plans are not welcome, but they have refused to listen.
“The local community and people across Scotland have made their feelings known. I hope that at long last today will mark the end of the road for Flamingo Land and a destructive proposal that Loch Lomond neither wants or needs.
“The loch is one of the most celebrated and unique landscapes anywhere in Scotland. It has been the backdrop of so many happy memories for people around the world. For Flamingo Land to scar it with this garish resort would be the worst kind of cultural and environmental vandalism.
“Flamingo Land has already inflicted too much stress and anxiety on local people over the decade they’ve spent pushing for this. They can't be allowed to do any more damage.
“Throughout this whole sorry saga the Scottish Greens have worked with and stood by local residents, and we know that they are exhausted. My constituents can't understand why Flamingo Land is so incapable of getting the message.
“I hope that today will be the day that the National Park rejects Flamingo Land, allowing the people of Balloch to get on with their lives without this ridiculous proposal hanging over them.”
