Latest news with #FlamingoLand
Daily Record
7 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Scottish Government accused of trying to 'railroad through' Flamingo Land resort
Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie said SNP minister Ivan McKee was treating local opponents to the controversial £43.5million bid with 'disdain'. The Scottish Government has been accused of trying to 'railroad through' Flamingo Land's Loch Lomond resort. Labour MSP for Dumbarton Jackie Baillie said SNP minister Ivan McKee was treating local opponents to the controversial £43.5million bid with 'disdain' and added he should not be allowed to decide the case. It comes after the proposed Lomond Banks resort in Balloch by Yorkshire theme park firm Flamingo Land was rejected by Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park last year. The SNP sparked an outcry when in May its Reporter David Buylla overruled them and green-lit the resort – a decision initially backed by public finance minister McKee. Last month McKee was forced into a U-turn amid local opposition and the threat of a parliamentary defeat led by Baillie and has 'called in' the appeal, meaning it must be directly considered by ministers. Baillie has warned Holyrood chiefs against trying to rush through a decision while MSPs are on holiday – as the Sunday Mail can reveal officials set out a speeded-up six-week timeline. The Scottish Labour deputy leader said: 'David Buylla, the original Reporter, already made a decision and Ivan McKee has already taken a view in Parliament. In the interests of fairness neither should have anything further to do with this application." The planned holiday resort in Balloch - long opposed by local and green campaigners - would see a waterpark, a monorail, hotels, a brewery, 104 woodland chalets and more built along the iconic loch. Developers insist it will bring jobs and investment to the area. We told last week of Buylla's continued involvement in the appeal despite previously backing the bid, with activists branding the process a 'sham'. Further questions have been raised after new correspondence from Buylla set out a new six-week timeline for developers, with input from the National Park, to produce a key planning agreement needed if the bid goes ahead. After his initial decision, Buylla had set out a six-month timeline, with no explanation provided about why this has been so drastically shortened. It's raised fears the government could dodge parliamentary scrutiny on the issue given MSPs don't return from summer recess until August 31. Buylla has set a 'target date' of September 11 to produce his final report for ministers. Baillie added: 'The SNP Government must not rush this through without public hearings on key concerns. 'This lack of accountability is a democratic outrage. "The SNP must stop railroading this application through and respond to the public concerns in an open and transparent manner or leave themselves open to judicial review." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. Green MSP Ross Greer said: 'The future of the gateway to Loch Lomond cannot be decided behind closed doors. "The National Park's board held a full public hearing before unanimously rejecting Flamingo Land's destructive plans. The Scottish Government must do the same. 'The Reporter made a huge mistake at the appeal stage by refusing to speak to groups like the National Park's planning experts or community representatives. Ministers cannot repeat that mistake as they try to rush this to a conclusion." The Scottish Government said: 'Ministers have not reached or expressed a view on this proposed development, and any claim to the contrary is false. As this is a live planning appeal it would not be appropriate to comment further.'
The National
06-07-2025
- Business
- The National
Review into Flamingo Land plans to be led by official who approved it
The Scottish Government recalled plans to build the resort on the banks of Loch Lomond last month, after it was announced the developers had been granted their appeal after it was rejected by the local authority. Scottish Government reporter David Buylla, who gave the £43.5 million project in Balloch planning permission, is now set to advise SNP ministers who have called in the decision for reappraisal, the Sunday Mail reports. The recall, undertaken by Public Finance Minister Ivan McKee, means that ministers will now consider the proposals directly. READ MORE: Campaign against Flamingo Land reaches milestone with 50,000 letters sent to minister If it goes ahead, the resort would see a waterpark, a monorail, hotels, restaurants, a brewery and 104 woodland chalets built. The plans have been met with criticism from local campaigners and politicians, which have been branded as "hysteria" by developers Lomond Banks. According to the Sunday Mail, Buylla is now tasked with writing a new report, including recommendations to inform McKee's decision. Scottish Government reporters are civil servants within the Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA), who decide on planning appeals. Buylla is one of five principal reporters at the DPEA, while there are also three assistant chief reporters and one chief reporter. Alannah Maurer, campaigner with the Save Loch Lomond campaign, told the Sunday Mail: 'You'd assume someone else would have been assigned. You have to consider professional integrity because how does he say anything other than what he previously said? READ MORE: All the reasons why approving Flamingo Land in Scotland is wrong 'It's absolutely clear there is no democracy, particularly where planning is concerned. The developer can appeal but the public has no right of appeal. 'Our best hope is that ministers will see sense, pay attention to the public – but it's clear public opinion counts for nothing.' Scottish Greens MSP Ross Greer, who has been involved with the campaign against Flamingo Land's plans, said ministers "cannot hide behind officials" when making their decision. Ross Greer MSP 'For a start, they must do what did not happen at the appeal stage; speak to the community, to myself and others like the Woodland Trust who submitted substantial evidence against Flamingo Land's destructive plans," he told the paper. 'They absolutely must speak to the National Park's own planning experts, whose report advising their board to reject the application was clearly badly misunderstood by Government officials. READ MORE: Cabinet minister refuses to confirm if two-child cap will be scrapped 'The Planning Minister should call a public hearing and come to his own decision based on the evidence. Rehashing the same flawed report from officials and waiting until after next year's election to sign it off would be totally unacceptable." A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: 'Ministers decided to recall the Lomond Banks appeal as the proposed development raises issues of national significance in view of its potential impact on Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. 'As this is a live planning appeal it would not be appropriate to comment further.'
Daily Record
06-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Scots Gov official who approved Flamingo Land will lead the review into decision
Angry activists have blasted the process "a sham". A review of the Scottish Government's widely criticised move to approve Flamingo Land's Loch Lomond resort will be led by the same official who gave it the green light. The Sunday Mail has learned Scottish Government Reporter David Buylla – who gave the controversial £43.5million project in Balloch planning permission – will now advise SNP ministers who have been forced to call in the decision for reappraisal. Furious activists say it showed the process was a 'sham'. The government was forced to U-turn on the initial backing for the lochside resort by Buylla – a top civil servant – amid local opposition and the threat of a parliamentary defeat. Community councillor Lynne Somerville said: 'It beggars belief they're allowing the same man that caused this outrage in the first place to write this new report. There's a complete conflict of interest and I think that really needs to be recognised by the Scottish Government.' Board members of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park are also opposed to the development. Dubbed ' Lomond Banks', the resort by Yorkshire theme park operator Flamingo Land would see a waterpark, a monorail, hotels, restaurants, a brewery and 104 woodland chalets built. After 50,000 people signed a petition urging ministers to reconsider the decision, Public Finance Minister Ivan McKee 'called in' the appeal last month, meaning ministers will consider it directly. But we can reveal the same Reporter, Buylla, is tasked with writing a new report including recommendations to inform McKee's decision. Somerville said: 'Why does Ivan McKee or anyone else think it's appropriate the same man is being asked to produce the report that will influence, guide and steer the outcome? "It's like they are trying to hide behind him and he is being used as the proverbial scapegoat. It does not paint the Scottish Government in a good light.' Scottish Government Reporters are civil servants within the Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) who decide on planning appeals. Buylla is one of five principal reporters at the DPEA, which also has a chief reporter and three assistant chief reporters. Alannah Maurer, campaigner with the Save Loch Lomond campaign, said: 'You'd assume someone else would have been assigned. You have to consider professional integrity because how does he say anything other than what he previously said? 'It's absolutely clear there is no democracy, particularly where planning is concerned. The developer can appeal but the public has no right of appeal. 'Our best hope is that ministers will see sense, pay attention to the public – but it's clear public opinion counts for nothing.' Buylla's continued involvement in the appeal was first revealed by environmental campaigner and blogger Nick Kempe, who branded Scotland's planning system a 'farce'. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. He wrote last week: "It appears the DPEA is still very much in charge. 'Without any instructions/steer from Mr McKee about what he wishes Mr Buylla to reconsider, it is difficult to see why he would change anything substantial in his report.' Tory West Scotland MSP Pam Gosal said: 'Given the controversy surrounding the SNP's handling of this issue, serious questions must be answered about the appropriateness of this latest appointment. 'Instead of continually forcing solutions and railroading their plans through parliament, SNP ministers should instead heed the widespread concerns of locals who firmly oppose the Flamingo Land proposals at Loch Lomond.' Scottish Green MSP Ross Greer commented: 'Ministers cannot hide behind officials when the gateway to Loch Lomond is at stake. They need to take control of this process themselves. 'For a start, they must do what did not happen at the appeal stage; speak to the community, to myself and others like the Woodland Trust who submitted substantial evidence against Flamingo Land's destructive plans. 'They absolutely must speak to the National Park's own planning experts, whose report advising their board to reject the application was clearly badly misunderstood by Government officials.'The Planning Minister should call a public hearing and come to his own decision based on the evidence. Rehashing the same flawed report from officials and waiting until after next year's election to sign it off would be totally unacceptable." Last month, developers Lomond Banks criticised the decision to recall the decision to approve and hit out at "hysteria" over the proposals which they say will bring much-needed jobs and investment to the area. A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: 'Ministers decided to recall the Lomond Banks appeal as the proposed development raises issues of national significance in view of its potential impact on Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. 'As this is a live planning appeal it would not be appropriate to comment further.'
Daily Record
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
The SNP Government must choose between greedy companies or the people on Flamingo Land at Loch Lomond
There have been a few times in our decade-long campaign to save Loch Lomond where I've held my breath and thought it was probably all over. Moments where I wondered if we could actually save this world-famous location from being destroyed by Flamingo Land's daft mega-resort. But time after time our people-powered campaign has held off this greedy company. We have - so far - stopped them from exploiting Scotland's natural heritage for their own profit. Over 155,000 of us lodged objections, making their mega-resort the most unpopular planning application in Scottish history. We were joined by experts like the Woodland Trust and the Government's own environment watchdog, SEPA. Last September we won, persuading the National Park's board to unanimously reject this destructive application. But then, in a move Ebeneezer Scrooge would be proud of, they lodged an appeal right before Christmas. And astonishingly, the Government official tasked with considering it decided to grant them permission, overturning the Park board's democratic decision and disregarding the overwhelming weight of evidence that the mega-resort would do huge damage. We couldn't let it end there though. For almost ten years the largely working-class community in Balloch has fought a David and Goliath struggle against this greedy developer. Our campaign to save Loch Lomond wasn't going to be defeated at the last minute on the whim of a single government official. In just two weeks over 50,000 of us wrote to the Planning Minister to demand that he recalled the decision. Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie raised it in Parliament, challenging the First Minister to step in. Our supporters across the country contacted MSPs of all parties but especially the SNP, calling on them to support our efforts. And just like that, on the eve of losing a vote in Parliament, the Scottish Government u-turned and recalled the decision. This is far from over, but Ministers themselves will now have the final say, not officials. That's how it should be for a development this big at the gateway to Loch Lomond. Decisions of national importance must be taken by elected MSPs. Government Ministers should not hide behind their officials. Loch Lomond i s the crown jewel of Scotland's natural environment. It's world famous for a reason. The gateway to the loch shouldn't be stuck behind traffic jams and resort gates. Both the environment itself and the community in Balloch deserve to be protected. From the flood risk and loss of ancient woodland to the extra 250+ cars per hour on already gridlocked local roads at peak times, the reasons to reject this application and end this saga are overwhelming. The Scottish Government has a choice. They can decide whether Scotland's national parks are just another 'investment opportunity' for greedy companies who would cause huge damage for a quick profit. Or they can finally side with the Scottish Greens, environmental experts, the residents of Balloch and 155,000 people across Scotland, end this saga, and save Loch Lomond.
Daily Record
17-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Flamingo Land developer criticises 'hysterical' opposition to Loch Lomond resort plans
Lomond Banks has hit back at the campaigners who have been opposing the proposed Flamingo Land development at Loch Lomond. The developer behind the controversial plans to bring a Flamingo Land development to the banks of Loch Lomond has expressed "extreme disappointment" after ministers recalled the application following a fierce campaign from activists. Theme park operator Flamingo Land, through its subsidiary Lomond Banks, had proposed to construct two hotels, more than 100 lodges, a waterpark and monorail at Balloch in a £43.5million development. Public Finance Minister Ivan McKee had previously declined to step in regarding the decision to proceed with the plans. But last week he confirmed that the government would now 'call-in' the plans. In a statement issued this week, Lomond Banks said that the move 'undermines the objective and independent judgment of the DPEA reporter'. Lomond Banks Development Director, Jim Paterson, said: 'As you would expect, we are taking legal advice. 'We have engaged with the planning process in good faith, following every regulation and expectation set by the National Park and Scotland's new national planning framework. "The land in question has been allocated for sustainable tourism development for decades, a fact acknowledged by the DPEA reporter. To have this long-established planning context disregarded at the eleventh hour raises serious questions not only about the integrity and consistency of the Scottish planning system, but also about Scotland as an investment destination.' He continued: 'The opposition has, unfortunately, relied on a sensationalist and misleading campaign, filled with hysteria, mistruths and inaccuracies, some of which disconcertingly continued to be relayed in last week's parliament debate. "Claims that we are developing a 'mega-resort' or bringing a 'theme park' to Loch Lomond are not only false, they are deliberately designed to stoke public fear and misinformation. There is no Flamingo Land-style park in our proposals, and such language is nothing more than a cynical attempt to derail a responsible development that aligns with the local development plan. 'Suggestions that this project will 'dominate the loch' are also disingenuous. Our development would front onto just 280 metres, that is 0.2 percent, of Loch Lomond's 153.5-kilometre shoreline. This is a proportionate and thoughtful approach, directly aligned with earlier developments such as Lomond Shores and fully consistent with the National Park's own vision. 'Contrary to the false narrative being pushed, this project has strong local support. Anyone genuinely interested in the views of the Scottish people need only look at the widespread positive engagement on social media and elsewhere, reflecting a clear desire for sustainable, year-round economic activity and job creation.' Mr Paterson insists the firm 'categorically reject' the 'baseless and offensive claim' that the firm are a Yorkshire-based company 'infiltrating Scottish shores'. He added: 'Flamingo Land is a Scottish-registered business, incorporated in 1973, and all taxable profits are retained within Scotland. Despite the name conjuring up connotations of a theme park style resort, Flamingo Land is the overarching company behind Lomond Banks – which is also a Scottish-registered business. These types of attacks are not only factually wrong, they are intentionally divisive and completely inappropriate. 'We remain fully committed to protecting and enhancing the natural environment. The ancient woodland at Drumkinnon Wood will be preserved and actively managed through a dedicated woodland management plan. Public access will not only be maintained but improved through upgraded core pathways. 'Claims that wildlife will also be affected are also unfounded, as the DPEA reporter concluded, there is no evidence to support these concerns. 'We now call on all Ministers, especially the planning minister, to uphold the integrity of the planning system. This process must remain impartial and evidence-led, not subjected to political opportunism or pressure campaigns built on misinformation. The rules must apply fairly and equally to all, or public trust in the system will be irreparably damaged. 'We urge the Scottish Government to see through the hysteria and consider not just the facts of this proposal, but the precedent it sets for all future investment in Scotland.' Campaigners against the plans last week welcomed the decision. Loch Lomond South Community Development Trust (LLSCDT) chairwoman, Lynne Somerville said: 'The people who live here must have a real say in the future of this place—not as an afterthought, but as equal partners. 'The overwhelming response from the community shows not only opposition to inappropriate development, but also a clear appetite for something better—something rooted in fairness, sustainability, and local benefit. 'Under the 2015 Community Empowerment Act, communities like ours are legally entitled to be heard and treated with respect in decisions that affect our land and future. It's time that legislation was meaningfully upheld.' Three local charities in favour of the development voiced their concerns that the Scottish Government had 'buckled to pressure'. The Friends of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, Maid of the Loch Steamship Company, and Helensburgh and District Access Trust argued that the government had made a U-turn due to the Lomond Banks planning application 'becoming a political football in the run up to the Scottish Parliamentary elections next year'.
