Campaigners urge Scottish Government to reject Flamingo Land for good
Scottish Greens co-leader Ross Greer will join Save Loch Lomond campaigners outside the Scottish Parliament at 10am this morning to urge the Scottish Government to finally reject Flamingo Land’s destructive mega-resort plans.
Government officials approved the plans in June, overturning the National Park board’s unanimous decision to reject Flamingo Land’s application and ignoring over 150,000 public and expert objections.
Following this, more than 50,000 people wrote to the Planning Minister, forcing him to recall the decision and commit to the final choice being made by Ministers themselves, rather than officials.
The Scottish Government’s handling of the process has come under intense criticism, particularly over the decision to reappoint the same official who approved the appeal to review his own decision. The report prepared by that official has now been submitted to Ministers.
The Scottish Greens and local campaigners are urging the Scottish Government to make the right choice and end this saga by rejecting the destructive mega-resort plans.
Ross said:
“After ten years this saga must now come to an end. Local people have made their feelings known time and time again. They have been joined by over 150,000 people from across the country, expert organisations such as the Woodland Trust and the National Park’s own board and planning officers.
“Government Ministers rightly recalled the outrageous decision of their officials to let these daft proposals go ahead, but that only happened because tens of thousands of us came together to show the strength of the public’s opposition to Flamingo Land.
“Loch Lomond is world-famous. It is the crown jewel of our natural heritage, so popular that the song which bears its name is used to end weddings and other celebrations. We will not allow the gateway to the loch to be spoiled by a theme park operator trying to exploit it for a quick profit.
“This has gone on for far too long. It is time for the Scottish Government to let local people get on with their lives. They must save Loch Lomond by throwing out Flamingo Land’s destructive plans for good.”