Revised plans for Flamingo Land’s £40m tourism development on Loch Lomond have been made public today.
Original proposals for the Lomond Banks project at Balloch were withdrawn in 2019 after being recommended for refusal by national park planner – – there had been more than 60,000 objections including an online petition.
But the developers say they have responded to planners’ problems with their previous proposal, as well as consulting closely with the local community.
Plans now made available include:
- A 60-bed apartment hotel
- A 32-bed budget hotel
- A monorail
- Up to 127 self-catering lodges
- A leisure pool and water park
- Restaurants, café, a craft brewery and a pub
- And historic Woodbank House and other listed structures being converted into self-catering holiday apartments.
MSP Ross Greer, who created the online petition against the previous plans, said today: “This is a huge application and it’s going to take us some time to digest the details but it looks like our Save Loch Lomond campaign has scored at least one major win, the preservation of Drumkinnon Woods.
“That being said, the overall scale of the proposals are still the same, with a roughly similar number of lodges and a hotel of exactly the same capacity as last time. This will put huge pressure on local roads and have an obvious impact on residents.
“Our concerns about continued unobstructed access to the woods for local residents also still stand and the principle of selling off public land to a private developer like this rightly makes many people feel deeply uncomfortable, so these plans are still hugely worrying.”
A planning statement submitted by Lomond Banks says the development would make ‘a major contribution to the visitor economy’ locally.
“The aim is to provide a vibrant and sustainable visitor destination with a distinctive character derived from its stunning setting,” it adds.
“The scheme’s design approach is based upon caring for, complementing and enhancing a special landscape while providing a series of connected woodland spaces and places which encourage movement between the loch shore and Balloch
“It will maintain the distinctiveness of the national park and its special landscape, and to build upon the work that has informed the Balloch Charrette.
“There is a strong case for the development in terms of its close proximity to an existing attraction at Loch Lomond Shores, and its potential to support the local tourism industry, while providing opportunities for jobs and the local economy.”
Full details are on Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park’s website – the reference number is 2022/0157/PPP.
Aligns perfectly with National Park Strategy which of course is a focus on commoditisation of the the Natural environment for profit. Butlins with trees. Disgusting.
60000 objections but only about 11000 of them had actually visited the park. 11900 actually didn’t even live in the UK.
No crime in that.
No I agree but it just shows how many people are sheep!
I’ve taken part in NP consultations more than most and from the start in 1998. I was also a member of the NP Fish and Fisheries Forum for the duration, about 10-11 years. I’ve also won 2 Local Planning Inquiries against the NP and West Dunbartonshire Council. There’s a lot of water flowed under that bridge. The Loch is world famous. I reckon the fleecers outnumbered the sheep by a long way.
I reckon the fleecers outnumbered the sheep by a long way.
I reckon the fleecers outnumbered the sheep by a long way
All that I’m saying is for a person to make comment on this who has never even visited the place does not give a true indication of public feelings. It’s been the same with hundreds of wind farms throughout Scotland having objections and support from far places like USA. I too have been envolved in such processes so I do have some understanding how these things operate
But you don’t own a monopoly on what’s true. Just because some people can demonstrate their material presence at a specific time or place doesn’t mean they got it right because of that. There’s no shortage of liars lying wherever they are….and wolves in sheep’s clothing. The Sheriff here will accept the word of anyone so long as they’re being reasonable, regardless of their name and address/contact details. There’s plenty of locals come with their “local knowledge.” Every street’s got one of those.