THE date has been set for a decision on a controversial application to develop a resort on the banks of Loch Lomond.
The theme park Flamingo Land is looking to invest some £40 million to develop an extensive section of the famous loch’s waterfront, with a monorail, waterpark, hotel, and more than 100 holiday lodges.
The first application was withdrawn amid fierce opposition in 2019, with a renewed application being submitted to the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority in May 2022.
Locals in Balloch told The National that they support some aspects of the development, such as renovation of the ruined Woodbank House, but oppose others, such as the widely panned monorail.
The Scottish Greens have campaigned against the Loch Lomond development, with MSP Ross Greer accusing Flamingo Land of wanting to “scar this world-famous natural landscape” and a petition against the plans gathering more than 94,000 signatures.
However, Jim Paterson, the development director of the project, claimed the Greens were engaging in “clickbait politics” rather than having a real dialogue about how a development could proceed, adding: “There is simply no way to validate the numbers [Greer] is quoting and who the people who clicked his sham petition are or where they live.”
As controversy around the application continues, the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority Board has agreed that a site visit, public hearing, and final decision on the case will take place on Monday, September 16.
The meetings will take place in public in Balloch, with the park authority saying: “Given the high level of public interest in the application, careful consideration is being given to the arrangements for the hearing.”
Ahead of the meeting, a report recommending whether the application should either be refused or granted will be published by the National Park Authority.
A spokesperson said: “This application has not yet been decided. No position has yet been taken in support of or against this planning application. However, with high levels of public interest, we felt it would be useful to set out as early as possible the process for taking a decision.
“Officers now have all the information required to assess the application and that assessment will continue between now and September. All submitted documents, consultee responses and representations from the public are being considered as part of the assessment.
“Once the assessment phase has concluded, a report will be published that includes a recommendation to board members that they either approve or refuse the application. That report will be published on the National Park Authority website in early September, in advance of the board meeting.
“Once the report has been published, those who have submitted formal comments on the application will be notified and given details on how they can request to speak at the public hearing.”
