The £30m Flamingo Land development at Loch Lomond has been backed by a leading local conservation charity.
The plans, which include a hotel, housing and monorail at Balloch, have sparked hundreds of objections..
But the Friends of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs has confirmed its ‘qualified support’ for the tourist and leisure development.
In an 11-page submission to the National Park Authority, they set out clearly the main reasons for their support and claim the plans will help deliver the vision first set out by Sir Patrick Abercrombie in the Clyde Valley Regional Plan as far back as 1949 and in subsequent local development and subject plans for Loch Lomond.
James Fraser, chairman of the group, said: “Our decision to support the current development proposals was taken after very careful consideration of the plans, a site visit and a number of pre-application meetings with the developers which led to some elements of the original scheme being scrapped such as a large viewing tower and floating holiday boats in the River Leven close to the stretch of river currently occupied by local cruising club mooring facilities.’’
He added:’’The outline proposals, with some modifications to accommodate a bolder transport solution to move people around Balloch more easily linked to better traffic managementarrangements and car parking improvements, will have far reaching economic, social and conservation benefits for Loch Lomond, Balloch and the Vale of Leven and they will help to realise the undoubted tourist and recreational potential of Balloch as the gateway to Loch Lomond.’’
Around 30 years ago the Friends, local councillors and the area tourist board successfully fought a local public inquiry, which prevented the land at Drumkninnon Bay being covered by Cala housing.
They hoped its future could be secured for the public to enjoy for tourism and leisure purposes following comprehensive redevelopment of, what then was, a large tract of unsightly former industrial land with a mix of disused gravel workings, a derelict silk dye works, extensive disused railway sidings and a former large shorefront static holiday caravan park.
The Friends cite the following five points as the main reasons for supporting the proposals:
- The proposals are comprehensive, appropriate in scale and nature and are in largely accordance with the zoning in current and previous local development Plans
- The proposed development will help strengthen Balloch’s appeal as a tourist destination and resort with a range of family orientated accommodation, activities and wet weather facilities which should encourage longer staying visitors with consequent economic spin off benefits for the wider community and existing businesses
- The extensive site will remain available for the public to enjoy for recreation and tourism purposes.
- The development proposals include plans to engage visitors in conservation educational activities and appreciating the special natural and cultural heritage qualities of Loch Lomond.
- There is an opportunity as part of the development to improve transport connections between different parts of the village as well as parking and traffic management arrangements for the benefit of local residents and visitors.
At last some people are seeing the good side of this development. At the moment all that we see and hear in local rags and around the local towns are people moaning that the local area is becoming a one horse area and then when we are faced with a fantastic opportunity to bring in investment and tourism people just moan. Its very amusing when you read the opposition remarks submitted that have no relevance to the plans and it’s even more amusing when you read the location of some of the objectors. I seem to recall a few years back when people were supporting a certain wind farm from as far away as Australia and Hong Kong, I bet half of these people had never even visited the area, again I would suggest this is exactly the same case here.
I really do hope the planners see through these comments and objections and give a great big green light for this and in turn this will hopefully give the area a boost it so could do with.
I beg your pardon Mr Walker. Please check the names and addresses of those objecting on the National
Park website. They mostly live in Central Scotland. Shame on you Friends of Loch Lomond !!May Phipps Balloch
I have, and I wouldn’t call Ontario, Workington, Shrewsbury, Folkestone, Dundee Central Scotland?
The problem with an iconic beauty spot is once developed into Disneyland,you cannot undo it!
Utter bull. Theres no way they can write an 11 page submission in favour, theres nowhere near enough benefits.
The Friends of Loch Lomond are a bunch of pillocks.
If the majority of the population dont want it, that should be it, end of. Scottish Enterprise, LLTNPA and WDC have no concern for conservation whatsoever. I’d put money on it that they lose out in the long run.
NO Flamingoland!
Who are friends of Loch Lomond where do originate from sound like a bunch idiots
Friends of Loch Lomond are a long established local pressure group who have fought many successful campaigns against planning and quango attempts to spoil the Loch.
The friends of Loch Lomond are the group that objected to me adding a dormer, for 2 extra bedrooms for my children, to my cottage near Gartocharn. The dormers overlooked a field that cows grazed on.Not visible by anyone other than the cows Now it seems they are fine with the destruction of ancient woodlands and a development that would wipe out all the green space west of the river. An overdevelopment like this will cause chaos to our allready congested roads.