AN MSP has warned that campaigners have just one month left to stop the Flamingo Land theme park plans – and issued a stark warning about what could happen if it goes ahead.
The National has previously reported about how the development could negatively impact the community in Balloch.
On Friday, it was announced that a petition to stop the development, backed by Greens MSP Ross Greer, had crossed 140,00 signatures.
Greer told The National: “If this proposal gets the go ahead it will set a terrible precedent for Scotland’s iconic landscapes and the crucial role of local democracy in the planning system.
“It would completely undermine all of the environmental protections that National Parks are supposed to offer, not to mention the reforms that the Scottish Greens introduced to make it much harder for environmentally damaging projects to be granted planning permission.
“If 140,000 objections and the intervention of the Scottish Government’s own environment watchdog is not enough to show the strength of feeling against a damaging and destructive proposal like this, how much more would it take?"
The Greens have long campaigned against the development, citing the community and environmental impacts it will have.
The proposed resort would feature over 100 self-catered cottages, a water park and a monorail.
Yorkshire-based Flamingo Land Limited is behind the proposal, and floated an earlier version of it in 2018.
That proposal was shot down unanimously by West Dunbartonshire council – but the resorts company came back around with a new plan in 2022.
This time around, the council did not block the resort proposal, opposed by a range of groups from the National Trust for Scotland to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.
Now, final authority to approve the development lies with the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority, which will make a decision on September 16.
Earlier on Friday, Greer said: “Flamingo Land’s mega-resort would be a disaster for one of the most iconic sites in Scotland.
“It would scar our world-famous landscape, cause irreversible damage to our local wildlife and environment, bring huge numbers of additional cars onto already dangerously congested local roads and threaten existing local businesses.
“The fact that over 140,000 people have taken the time to object to these proposals tells you how unpopular they are. The people of Balloch have endured so much stress and anxiety after nearly a decade of Flamingo Land trying to get their hands on this amazing corner of the Loch.
“With only one month to go, I urge the National Park’s board to do the right thing and protect Loch Lomond from greedy developers. It’s not too late for anyone who cares about the Loch to lodge your objection via the Scottish Greens’ website.
“Back when this sorry saga began, Flamingo Land’s chief executive promised to walk away if they didn’t gain public support. They clearly haven’t."
