SNP Ministers’ refusal to stop mega-resort a ‘hammer blow’ to Loch Lomond
The Scottish Greens have described Planning Minister Ivan McKee’s refusal this afternoon to stop Flamingo Land mega-resort application as a ‘hammer blow’ to Loch Lomond’s world-famous natural environment and to the local community in Balloch.
In response to the Planning Minister’s claim that it would be ‘inappropriate’ to comment on a live planning application, Mr Greer raised the example from 2008 when Scottish Ministers, not civil servants, intervened to overrule Aberdeenshire Council and grant permission to Donald Trump’s golf course at Menie.
Speaking in response to a topical question in Parliament from Scottish Green MSP and Save Loch Lomond campaigner Ross Greer, Mr McKee stated, “I do not intend to recall this appeal.”
This comes following the announcement on Friday that Scottish Government officials have overturned the unanimous decision of Loch Lomond and the Trossach National Park’s board to reject the mega-resort application and will instead grant it permission, subject to a new agreement being signed.
Flamingo Land’s plans would see two hotels, a waterpark, over a hundred woodland lodges, 372 parking spaces, a monorail and more crammed onto land beside Loch Lomond at Balloch.
The application was unanimously rejected by the National Park’s board following a public hearing in September 2024. Shortly before Christmas, the developer lodged an appeal with the Scottish Government, seeking to overturn that rejection.
Ross Greer said:
“This cowardly decision by Scottish Ministers is a hammer blow to Loch Lomond and the community in Balloch. They have the power to intervene and stop Flamingo Land’s destructive mega-resort from going ahead, but will not do so.
“Ministers were happy to step in when it helped an American billionaire trash the Menie dunes for the sake of a golf course, but when it comes to protecting our world-famous natural environment, they refuse to act.
“The Flamingo Land application was opposed by experts, including the Scottish Government’s own environment watchdog and the National Park’s planning team. It flies in the face of our efforts to tackle the climate and nature crisis and would heap more misery on local residents with the huge amount of additional traffic it would cause.
“It is absolutely staggering that officials overturned the Park board’s decision, but it is so much worse that Ministers are backing them up. This is a Scottish Government willing to step in to help American billionaires, but not when Scotland’s world-famous natural environment needs protection.
“Our campaign to save Loch Lomond from Flamingo Land continues. The Scottish Government still has time to change course. Add your voice to the campaign at www.greens.scot/LochLomond”