“Cut your losses and jog on”: Greer tells Flamingo Land
Green MSP Ross Greer led a debate in Parliament this Tuesday in which he called for Flamingo Land to give way to a community buyout. The motion he proposed celebrated the success of Save Loch Lomond. The community campaign, working with the Green MSP, forced a series of setbacks for Flamingo Land, resulting in their application, lodged jointly with Scottish Enterprise, being withdrawn just a week before it was widely expected to be rejected. By the time of its withdrawal the near 60,000 objections lodged made Flamingo Land’s proposed resort the most unpopular planning application in Scottish history.
The Green MSP’s motion called for alternative visions for the site, such as those suggested at a recent community meeting, to be explored, concluding that “the future of the site would be best determined by the local community”.
In his speech, Greer demanded answers from government ministers on the exclusivity agreement between Scottish Enterprise, a government agency, and Flamingo Land. This agreement gives the Yorkshire-based company exclusive rights to purchase the land until the end of 2020. The Scottish Greens recently launched a petition calling for the termination of this agreement, making a community buy-out easier to achieve. Rural Economy Mairi Gougeon committed to seek further information and respond in writing to Greer and other local MSPs who have raised questions about this,
Ross Greer, MSP for the West of Scotland commented:
“The most unpopular planning proposal in Scottish history isn’t dead yet, something that needs to be understood at the highest levels of government. I’m glad to have given MSPs the opportunity to discuss this ridiculous application, as well as the appalling behaviour of Flamingo Land over the last few years and our successful campaign to see them off, so far.
“We know that the community have dozens of better ideas that the destructive, unnecessary and unwelcome resort Flamingo Land proposed. It’s time this rabble cut their losses and jog on. The community have been crystal clear that the site’s future should be in their hands and I’ve been proud to fight their corner every step of the way. I’m more confident than ever that together we are going to save Loch Lomond.”