Over 25,000 Object to Flamingo Land’s Loch Lomond Plans in one week
Over 25,000 Object to Flamingo Land’s Loch Lomond Plans in one week
The campaign to save ancient woodland and public land on the shores of Loch Lomond from a controversial development received a major boost last October. Green MSP Ross Greer launched a website encouraging submission of objections on Tuesday 25th September. The number of submissions to Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park- the body who will decide whether to give planning permission - reached the 10,000 mark within 48 hours and after one week was standing at over 25,000. Nearly 1000 people had already lodged an objection with the national park.
The proposals would lead to the sale of iconic public land in Balloch to be used for private profit to build a leisure development including woodland lodges, treetop walkways, a hotel, restaurant, brewery, a monorail and much more. The developer's own Environmental Impact Assessments states that there will be damage to ancient woodland, pollution of standing and running water, red squirrel and otter fatalities and other ‘negative effects’ as a result of their proposals.
Ross Greer, the Green MSP for the West of Scotland, including Balloch, said
“I knew that there was very strong local opposition to these plans, but I’m incredibly heartened to see opposition being expressed directly to the national park in such unprecedented numbers and in many cases from across Scotland. This is a site that should belong to all of us, and especially to the local community. It is not the plaything of private developers looking to turn a profit. If you’ve not got your objection in already, visit greens.scot/loch-lomond and use our simple portal to lodge one as soon as you can.
“Our portal allows people to lodge their own individual objection directly with the National Park but I would also encourage residents to sign the local petitions currently circulating. So many people, both locally and further afield, love Loch Lomond and have been shocked by the details of these proposals. This has been a great opportunity to ensure that everyone can have their say and it’s fantastic to see just how many people have decided to do exactly that.”