Shamed ex-SNP chief Derek Mackay working with firm behind controversial Flamingo Land development
SLEAZY DOES IT
SLEAZY DOES IT Shamed ex-SNP chief Derek Mackay working with firm behind controversial Flamingo Land development
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SHAMED ex-SNP minister Derek Mackay has been working with the firm behind the controversial Flamingo Land development.
Mackay disappeared from Holyrood in February 2020 after The Scottish Sun revealed he had been pestering a 16-year-old schoolboy with creepy text messages.
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Shamed ex-SNP minister Derek Mackay is understood to be advising the firm behind Flamingo Land plans
Credit: PA
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Flamingo Land proposals include a waterpark, monorail, more than 100 lodges, and a waterpark
Credit: Lomond Banks
It has now been revealed by the Daily Record that the former minister had been advising on the plans for the multi-million resort on the banks of Loch Lomond.
Flamingo Land proposals include a waterpark, monorail, more than 100 lodges, and a waterpark in Balloch, Dunbartonshire.
The controversial project has divided opinion, and the national park authority rejected plans last year.
However, last month the Scottish Government overturned a refusal decision, but the development was recently stalled over "environmental concerns".
Mackay is understood to have been advising Lomond Banks.
Speaking about the former politician's involvement, a spokeswoman told the Daily Record that Lomond Banks "works with a range of specialists and advisers".
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "The Scottish Government has had no contact from Derek Mackay on this."
They also denied claims of any contact.
Concerns have now been raised over Mackay's role - who was previously a planning minister.
Labour MSP Jackie Baillie said: 'It is extraordinary that Lomond Banks appears to have employed Derek Mackay as a consultant.
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'As a former SNP planning minister, questions need to be asked about whether he used his old party contacts to influence the outcome of this planning application.'
Mackay left the SNP in March 2021 after The Scottish Sun revealed he had bombarded a schoolboy with 270 online messages.
In the sleazy messages Mr Mackay called the lad 'cute' and invited him out for dinner, six months after contacting him out of the blue.
In February, he set up Lochan Associates Ltd, which Companies House says offers 'management consultancy activities other than financial management'.
Plans for the multi-million pound Flamingo Land resort have recently been put on ice.
It comes days after the Scottish Green Party claimed more than 50,000 people have written to the Nats ministers demanding that the controversial theme park be scrapped.
Their MSP Ross Greer said Planning Minister Ivan McKee must "listen to the public".
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