PLANS to build a holiday park on the shores of Loch Lomond have been dealt a major blow after National Park authorities demanded answers to their concerns about the development.
Flamingo Land first proposed developments on the banks of Loch Lomond near the town of Balloch in 2019 but later withdrew the plans after widespread opposition from locals.
However, a revised planning proposal was submitted to the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority earlier this year.
The Lomond Banks development plans included plans for two hotels, up to 127 self-catering cottages, a waterpark, and a monorail.
But Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park Authority, who need to approve any planning application, have now requested answers on 16 separate issues from Flamingo Land contractors Stantec, including about its impact on the environment.
Among the list of issues raised by the park authority is the lack of a properly detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), clear information on the potential impact on ancient woodlands and water quality, and figures on how much more traffic would be added to already congested local roads.
Scottish Green MSP Ross Greer previously lodged his objections to the plans in a letter written by planning expert Ian Cowan.
It warned that there were “serious flaws” in the application process, with Greer threatening to launch a judicial review if these were not rectified.
He also pointed out that some of the documents submitted to the National Park Authority did not meet acceptable legal standards and could leave the decision open to legal challenge.
Greer described the plans as a “scar” on the area and said the Park Authority’s intervention signalled the “death knell” for the project.
He said: “This is a massive rebuke to Flamingo Land and hopefully signals the death knell for their preposterous and damaging plans.
“For developers to fail to clearly provide one important piece of information would be careless, but the fact that the National Park has made sixteen requests shows how much of a shambles we’re dealing with here.
“Flamingo Land has been quick to accuse others of spreading misinformation, yet this letter from the National Park shows how inconsistent and unclear their own plans are.”
The MSP added: “This is far more serious than just an illustration of flaws in the plans. It shows how, by failing to submit a compliant Environmental Impact Assessment, the developers are gambling with the future of one of Scotland’s most iconic locations.
“Recent community surveys have shown that residents oppose these plans by a margin of three to one. Flamingo Land’s boss promised years ago that if the community weren’t behind them, they would walk away.
"Not only are the people of Balloch clearly ready to see the back of them, it now appears that they’re losing the confidence of the Park Authority as well.”
However, the development director of the Lomond Banks proposal, Jim Paterson, said that Greer was interfering in a legitimate process.
He told The National: “This is yet another attempt by Ross Greer to interfere in a legitimate planning process by using inflammatory language and presenting misinformation as fact.
“Of course, it is not for Ross Greer to decide on the merits of this planning application, this decision continues to sit with the planning authority and the statutory consultees.
“Our commitment to shaping our plans around community and stakeholder feedback has been paramount throughout this application journey, so this feedback from the National Park is hugely valuable in aiding us to edit our plans further to fit the vision of the community, businesses, and the planning authority alike.
“We are steadfast in our plans for Lomond Banks and we truly believe we can deliver something that Balloch and the wider area can greatly benefit from.
"We will now consider the further questions and requests, and get to work on how best to respond to these in the coming weeks. We look forward to engaging in this process further and, working with our experts and partners to, delivering on what has been asked of us.
“Likewise, the National Park has also asked us to make assurances around the location of the John Muir Way, which we will be happy to confirm. Providing access to such routes of national significance continues to be of vital importance to us all and we have maintained a strong position around this from the outset.”
More than 30,000 people have so far signed a petition calling for the plans to be scrapped.
The original plans in 2019 were withdrawn after a record 60,000 people lodged objections and Park officials recommended the plans be abandoned.
The National Trust for Scotland and the Woodland Trust have also made clear that they object to the developer’s proposals.
