Tens of thousands of people have voiced their opposition to plans to build a 'world-class tourist development' on the banks of Loch Lomond.
Flamingo Land has submitted plans to create up to 60 apartments, a budget hotel with up to 32 beds, 127 self-catering holiday lodges, and to restore and redevelop Woodbank House as 21 self-catering holiday apartments under the Lomond Banks umbrella.
It's said the development would represent £40 million pounds of investment in the local area. However, plans have divided opinion among locals and have sparked a campaign by Scottish Greens who have described the development as 'garish and unwelcome'.
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Over 55,000 objections have been lodged against the controversial development.
The Yorkshire-based developers dropped previous plans in 2019 after a campaign led by Ross Greer and the Scottish Greens led to a record number of objections being lodged.
While Mr Greer’s campaign has successfully prevented Flamingo Land from trying again to build on the ancient woodland at Drumkinnon Wood, their revised proposal would still see development on a huge scale.
The application is also opposed by the National Trust for Scotland, the Woodland Trust, and Ramblers Scotland.
Local Green MSP Ross Greer said: “I am grateful to everyone who has supported our community campaign. Every objection matters and helps to show the scale of local and national opposition to this garish, unwelcome and destructive development.
“It would be an environmental disaster, and an act of cultural vandalism against one of Scotland’s most beautiful and iconic landscapes. It would mean extra traffic and congestion on local roads which are already struggling to cope, and would only stand to benefit wealthy tourists, not the community or existing local businesses.
“Loch Lomond means so much to so many people. It must not be treated as a playground for developers looking for a quick profit. We’ve beaten Flamingo Land before, and, with tens of thousands of objections, this time we’ll do it for good.”
A number of local figures previously came out in support of the plans including Reverend Ian Miller, who has served the community of West Dunbartonshire for 47 years.
He said: "This area has been crying out for inward investment for too long and, as a member of the community council, I know we are desperate for this to happen."
Maid of the Loch paddle steamer is also backing the development and believe it could bring 'lasting benefit to both the economy and community'.
Iain Robertson, chairman of the charity, said: “The board of trustees have met, and we believe that this new application answers many of the questions that were raised the last time this project looked to get off the ground. As a board we have considered it carefully and believe that the Lomond Banks’ concept fits both with the local area and what the Maid of the Loch is trying to achieve.
“In an area that has lost so many jobs over the years, it is important that local people benefit from a successful development that complements the wider area and we believe that the proposed Lomond Banks plans will do just that. We hope that if successful, the developers will work with both us and other local businesses in making Balloch a place that people want to visit, stay and spend money in.”
Jim Paterson, development director for the project, said: “We believe our £40million investment in Balloch will not only create a world-class, eco-tourism destination, but that it will bring jobs to the area, boost the local economy and provide a strong and sustainable development that will help both regenerate and support West Dunbartonshire in the future.
"Throughout the process we have reiterated our commitment to working closely with businesses to ensure that the local area will benefit from the development throughout and we believe that Lomond Banks will create something that is fitting for the area and is sympathetic to its important location at the gateway of Loch Lomond.”
The deadline for objections is March 30.
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