Scottish Government urged to ‘come clean’ on removal of Flamingo Land documents.
Scottish Greens MSP Ross Greer has urged the Scottish Government to come clean over the removal of key documents opposing the Flamingo Land mega-resort application from their website.
The documents removed include letters from Mr Greer’s legal representative as well as lawyers for Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park and from Balloch and Haldane Community Council, all of which were highly critical of the application and its handling. Lawyers representing the National Park described the Government’s approach to the proposals as ‘highly unorthodox’.
Concerns include the reappointment of the same official who previously recommended that Flamingo Land’s mega-resort be given permission to go ahead. This official will now lead on the recall case and make a new recommendation to Ministers, which Greer’s legal advisor Ian Cowan has warned risks making the process ‘tainted by bias’.
Another concern raised by Mr Greer’s representatives is the apparent contradiction in the dates of specific documents.
The document formally reappointing the previous official was published on July 4th, but dated as June 24th. The document’s properties show that it was only created on July 4th, shortly after the publication of a separate document from this official which laid out the new process.
Despite warnings from Mr Greer’s team that the process is in danger of being unlawful, the Scottish Government is refusing to answer the questions raised in his letter until after they have made their decision.
Flamingo Land’s application is the most opposed in Scottish history, with over 155,000 objections to a plan which seeks to cram two hotels, a waterpark, over 100 woodland lodges, 370 parking spaces, a monorail, shops, restaurants and more on to the proposed site at Balloch, attracting more than 250 extra cars onto already congested local roads at peak times.
Ross said:
"This is bang out of order from the Scottish Government. People in Balloch are trying to keep some faith in this process, but it's getting pretty tough when their Government has made such questionable decisions, refuses to answer any questions - and is now removing key documents.
"I raised serious concerns about whether this process is even lawful and the National Park Authority have also been ringing the alarm bell. It’s time for them to come clean. My constituents in Balloch deserve an answer from their government here, otherwise this looks like a total cover-up.
“The decisions to remove the letters outlining those concerns only adds to the anxiety that so many were already feeling about the Scottish Government's handling of the case.
"Local residents, and the 155,000 people from across the country who have supported them, deserve a process that they can have confidence in. That is why we need a clear and direct response to the concerns raised by my lawyers and others.
"Balloch is the gateway to Loch Lomond. We have fought to save it from Flamingo Land's disastrous mega-resort proposal for almost a decade. The Scottish Government should finally listen to the community by stopping these ridiculous plans and finally ending this sorry saga."
