Loch Lomond rejects Flamingo Land resort plans amid public outcry

A national park officer has recommended against the proposed £40 million Flamingo Land development at Loch Lomond, citing significant concerns regarding environmental impact and flood risks. The Lomond Banks project aims to construct 104 lodges, two hotels, a waterpark, and other facilities, but the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority (LLTNPA) believes the scale of the proposal conflicts with the site's capacity for development. The authority emphasized the need for biodiversity enhancements, which the project fails to deliver due to tree removal without compensatory planting. Despite the LLTNPA's recommendation, West Dunbartonshire Council does not oppose the planning permission in principle. However, public sentiment is overwhelmingly against the project, with over 150,000 signatures on a petition led by the Scottish Greens. The authority board is set to make a final decision on September 16, with a public hearing scheduled to accommodate community attendance. Jim Paterson, development director for Lomond Banks, expressed disappointment with the recommendation, asserting that the proposal meets technical criteria and would benefit the local community through sustainable investment and job creation. He urged the national park board to consider the merits of the application, emphasizing that the next planning stage would address specific concerns. The original proposal was withdrawn in 2019, but a revised plan was submitted in 2020, which has been met with significant public opposition. Scottish Greens MSP Ross Greer criticized the plans, labeling them as detrimental to the local area and urging Flamingo Land to abandon their proposal in light of the overwhelming public outcry.