Council officials say they have no objections to Flamingo Land’s £40m plans for a tourism resort on Loch Lomond.
Planners at West Dunbartonshire Council say that provided a roundabout is improved the project should go ahead, despite ‘a high level’ of native woodland being lost.
The final decision will be taken by Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority, and the recommendation by West Dunbartonshire officials needs to be agreed by elected councillors at a meeting on Wednesday.
A report to that meeting by planning, building standards and environmental health manager Pamela Clifford says that improvement to the Ballochloan roundabout on the A811 has to be a condition of the work going ahead.
There have been over 300 objections to the plan, which includes over 100 self-catering lodges, two hotels, a waterpark and monorail, while over 85,000 people have signed a petition organised by MSP Ross Greer.
And the report by Ms Clifford states: “Whilst in time, new native woodland would provide a biodiversity benefit; this will take many decades or longer to provide the same quality of habitat that is being proposed for removal to accommodate the dwellings in the Woodbank house field.
“The loss of the succession woodland at the pier head to accommodate the building is extensive.
“This is also a very well used visitor area as are both the beaches in front of the proposed hotel area.”
She says the monorail is a ‘particular attraction of the development’ and suggests that employees should have free or discounted travel on this.
“The economic benefits of the proposal with regard to new jobs created within the development, and increased local expenditure from visitors to the site are recognised which would benefit local businesses and traders and specifically would assist the ongoing viability of Lomond Shores,” the report adds.
“The proposal would help to establish Balloch as a gateway to Loch Lomond and increase its attractiveness as a tourist destination.
“The new development is likely to stimulate further improvements in Balloch e.g. Station Square, Duncan Mill Slipway improvements or active travel links linking to the National Cycle Network.
“Increased number of visitors staying in the area could help unlock redevelopment potential of Balloch Castle and help other local attractions e.g. Maid of the Loch.
“The development proposals would be positive in terms of increase in local employment opportunities and increase in tourism numbers to the local area which could also benefit local businesses and traders.”
Details of the plan and public comments are on the national park website – the reference number is 2022/0157/PPP .
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