Loch Lomond: Greer Pledges 50,000 Flamingoland Objections
Green MSP Ross Greer today responded to the relaunch of plans for a controversial development on the banks of Loch Lomond by pledging to deliver at least 50,000 objections. This would set a record for any planning application in Scottish history.
Plans for a major development and the sale of publicly owned land within the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park were initially lodged in May 2018. Following the submission of over thirty thousand objections organised by Ross Greer MSP, the developer delayed its response to the National Park’s request for changes and further details.
The developer’s own Environmental Impact Assessment concluded that approval of the plans would result in damage to ancient woodland, pollution of standing and running water, red squirrel and otter fatalities and other environmental concerns. Residents have also expressed concerns about the volume of traffic expected on local roads, access issues and the principle of publicly owned land in a world-famous national park being sold to a private developer.
Final plans, with the addition of even more woodland lodge accommodation, were revealed last week. This week, Flamingoland rebranded the project “Lomond Banks”. The proposals are for a site which is largely owned at present by Scottish Enterprise, a Scottish Government Agency. The enterprise agency recently extended an exclusivity agreement with the Yorkshire theme park operator, which would see the land sold to them should planning permission be granted by Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.
Yesterday the 40,000th individual objector submitted their response through the Scottish Green Party’s website. Following this Ross Greer, Green MSP for the West of Scotland pledged to deliver at least 50,000 names by the deadline for objections next month.
Commenting on the record number of objections, Greer said:
“The success of tourism at Loch Lomond comes from the world-famous natural beauty of our national park. For the sake of a private developer’s profit margins, that world-famous natural beauty and many jobs & businesses currently dependent on it are now at risk.
“Flamingoland’s own impact assessment was clear about water pollution, destruction of ancient woodland, harm to protected species and much more. Between that environmental damage and huge local concerns about the impact on roads and access to what is now, but would no longer be, public land, it’s no wonder that 40,000 people have already objected. I hope people will speak up louder than ever in saying no to Flamingoland and support the calls for the land to be taken into local community hands instead. We’ll be presenting at least 50,000 objections next month as just one part of our campaign to save Loch Lomond.”