The fight over a proposed £40 million tourist resort on the shores of Loch Lomond is well-and truly underway, with developers a starting a leaflet campaign to try and persuade residents of its value.
Last week, it was revealed that Flamingo Land submitted a fresh “application in principle” to the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park site for up to 60 apartments, a budget hotel with up to 32 beds, 127 self-catering holiday lodges, and the restoration and redevelopment of Woodbank House as a 21 self-catering holiday apartments on Lomond Banks.
The site, situated at Pier Road, Ben Lomond Way would also sport a leisure pool, waterpark, spa, restaurants, hot food cafe, retail areas, a pub, visitor reception, play areas, picnic setting, monorail and associated access and parking.
READ MORE: Loch Lomond's £40m Flamingo Land 'tourist resort' facing opposition campaign
It comes after an application to transform the site into a holiday destination was thrown out two years ago, when more than 50,000 objections were lodged about the plans.
The information leaflets dropping through doors will be hoping to stop many of the objections, while there have been suggestions some locals would welcome the investment - and West Dunbartonshire council have said they will "be on listening mode" before deciding whether to object.
The application in principle means the organisation is looking for an agreement that the proposed development is acceptable - but there are already several objections from concerned local residents that the development would take away from the natural habitat, destroy the homes of wildlife and biodiversity.
So far the general consensus is that locals must band together to protect the environment, prevent an increase in traffic in the area and protect the “natural beauty” of the site.
One local resident, who works in the area but does not want to be named, said that although the investment could be good for Balloch, the general feeling was that they did not want it.
They said: “We received a flyer through the post about the proposals from Flamingo Land. There was a lot of controversy regarding the initial plans a few years ago and I am not sure if this new approach will appease the locals either.”
The Scottish Greens have also relaunched their campaign to block the application last week with local councillors for the area agreeing that the applicant will need to take into consideration the concerns of the local community before they receive the support of the council.
Another resident added: "If the Greens are against it - I am for it."
Council Leader and Lomond ward councillor Martin Rooney told how the council unanimously opposed the Lomond Banks proposal originally which was subsequently withdrawn.
Councillor Rooney said: “It looks like the applicant has taken time to reassess their plans and has significantly amended their proposal reflecting previous feedback from the public and statutory consultees.
“The council will give its formal response to the Lomond Bank proposals at the appropriate time, when we have all the facts available to us and a report from the professional officers of the Council.
“We need to be on listening mode over the coming weeks and engage with residents, businesses and community groups as well as be mindful of the wider interests of the people of West Dunbartonshire.
“If we genuinely think we can do much better than the Lomond Banks proposal, then the council would oppose it. In the meantime we need to let our residents, businesses and communities have their say and for council officers to do their work to help inform a future council decision.”
Leader of the opposition, Lomond councillor Jonathan McColl, objected strongly to the previous application for this site. He said the former application was a clear over development which sought to maximise commercial income with no thought for the local natural environment, local community access or the impact on already busy local roads and the A82 among other issues.
Councillor McColl added: “Looking at the new application, it is clear that the developer has taken heed of concerns raised by myself and the council, and while there are still questions to be asked and issues to be resolved, not least of all around traffic management, from a planning perspective I think it meets the requirements for planning permission in principle.
“They have gone further than most developers in providing detailed information that would not normally be part of an in principle application, which tells me they now recognise the need to address the concerns of local people; they won’t be able to railroad through unsuitable plans at the expense of our community.
“If the in principle plans are approved by the National Park planning authority, it will be vital that the developer fully addresses these concerns if they want support from the public, elected politicians and ultimately the National Park for their full application in due course.”
