Latest news with #LomondBanks
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.'
Scottish Sun
19-06-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Shamed ex-SNP chief Derek Mackay working with firm behind controversial Flamingo Land development
Plans for the multi-million pound Flamingo Land resort have recently been put on ice SLEAZY DOES IT SLEAZY DOES IT Shamed ex-SNP chief Derek Mackay working with firm behind controversial Flamingo Land development Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) 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. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Shamed ex-SNP minister Derek Mackay is understood to be advising the firm behind Flamingo Land plans Credit: PA 3 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. John Swinney defends Gray's car use after minister was 'driven to pub' '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".
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'.
Glasgow Times
17-06-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Ignore 'hysteria' around Loch Lomond Flamingo Land, says developer
Lomond Banks – owned by theme park operator Flamingo Land – has proposed to build more than 100 lodges, two hotels, a water park, monorail and parking spaces for more than 300 cars at the site, on the southern shores of the loch at Balloch, West Dunbartonshire. Last week, the Scottish Government took the decision to call in the application, which had been given the green light by a Government reporter despite heavy backlash from campaigners. The reporter elected to approve the application, subject to 49 conditions, despite the unanimous rejection of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park authority and objections from the Woodland Trust, the National Trust for Scotland and the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa). Minister Ivan McKee had previously ruled out an intervention on the issue but, last week, said the decision was of 'national significance'. The decision came 24 hours before a motion tabled by Labour deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie was due for a vote, with the motion passing unanimously. On Monday, Lomond Banks development director Jim Paterson said the firm was 'extremely disappointed' MSPs had voted last week to force the application to be called. '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,' he said. 'The land in question has been allocated for sustainable tourism development for decades, a fact acknowledged by the DPEA (Planning and Environmental Appeals Division) reporter. 'To have this long-established planning context disregarded at the 11th hour raises serious questions not only about the integrity and consistency of the Scottish planning system, but also about Scotland as an investment destination.' The director went on to urge ministers to back the proposals. 'We now call on all ministers, especially the planning minister, to uphold the integrity of the planning system,' he said. '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.' Paterson accused opponents of the development – spearheaded by Scottish Green MSP Ross Greer – of a 'sensationalist and misleading campaign' full of 'mistruths and inaccuracies'. Contrary to the 150,000 people who signed a petition to halt the plans, and the 50,000 who wrote to the Scottish Government to intervene, Paterson claimed the 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,' he said. According to a study commissioned by Lomond Banks, 200 jobs would be created in the area, 80 full-time and 120 part-time or seasonal, though the study suggested a net of just 61 jobs would result from the £43.5 million development. Paterson also took issue with the description of Flamingo Land as a 'Yorkshire company'. 'Flamingo Land is a Scottish-registered business, incorporated in 1973, and all taxable profits are retained within Scotland,' he said. The company is registered at an address in Uddingston, South Lanarkshire, but its key site is in Yorkshire, with all three of the firm's active directors on Companies House being based south of the border. Greer accused the developer of being 'desperate', adding that the company 'have treated the people of Balloch with complete contempt' and claiming multiple surveys have shown local opposition to the plans. 'Flamingo Land would rather throw accusations around than address the many, many ways in which their mega-resort would be a disaster for the National Park,' he said. 'The evidence all points one way – the Scottish Government must reject this application and save Loch Lomond.'
STV News
16-06-2025
- Business
- STV News
Scottish Government urged to ignore ‘hysteria' around Loch Lomond proposals
The developer behind controversial plans to build on the banks of Loch Lomond has urged the Scottish Government to ignore the 'hysteria' from opponents. Lomond Banks – owned by theme park operator Flamingo Land – has proposed to build a multi-million-pound mega-park. It includes plans for a water park, two hotels, 104 wooden lodges, spa, cafes, shops, restaurants, brewery and more in Balloch, West Dunbartonshire. In May, the Scottish Government Reporter approved the plans – allowing them to go on to the next stage of planning and development – despite opposition from the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority itself and more than 150,000 people who joined the Save Loch Lomond campaign. The Scottish Government initially said it had 'no intention' of stepping in to re-evaluate that approval, but Scottish ministers U-turned last week, once again putting the Flamingo Land plans in doubt. On Monday, speaking for the first time since that decision, Lomond Banks development director Jim Paterson said the firm was 'extremely disappointed'. '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,' he said. 'The land in question has been allocated for sustainable tourism development for decades, a fact acknowledged by the DPEA (Planning and Environmental Appeals Division) reporter. 'To have this long-established planning context disregarded at the 11th hour raises serious questions not only about the integrity and consistency of the Scottish planning system, but also about Scotland as an investment destination.' 'That's why Mr Paterson called on ministers to back the Flamingo Land proposals. 'We now call on all ministers, especially the planning minister, to uphold the integrity of the planning system,' he said. '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.' Mr Paterson added: '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.' Mr Paterson accused opponents of the development – spearheaded by Scottish Green MSP Ross Greer – of a 'sensationalist and misleading campaign' full of 'mistruths and inaccuracies'. More than 150,000 people signed a petition to halt the plans, and 50,000 wrote to the Scottish Government to intervene, but Mr Paterson claimed the 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,' he said. Public finance minister Ivan McKee said last week the government would recall the plans for the Flamingo Land resort, saying it raises issues of national significance due to its impact on the national park area. Over 150,000 people objected to the development through a petition launched by the Scottish Greens. The final outcome will be now be decided by Scottish ministers. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
