Flamingo Land Loch Lomond deal slammed
Fears of development rise as agreement emerges
GREEN campaigners have criticised a deal giving theme park owner Flamingo Land “exclusive” rights to develop land on Loch Lomondside.
Flamingo Land wanted to build budget accommodation, a hotel, brewery, boat house and leisure centre on the banks of the loch but 60,000 objections were handed in before it was rejected a year ago.
Now it’s emerged the developer has an “exclusivity tie” deal with the Scottish Government’s enterprise agency – allowing it to develop other plans for the site near Balloch.
But West of Scotland MSP Ross Greer says 13,000 people have signed a petition demanding the deal is ended, adding: “It’s over a year since the community first defeated Flamingo Land’s destructive and unwelcome plans and we still don’t know whether a line can finally be drawn under this or if it will start all over again with a fresh application.
“This saga has exhausted the community and it needs to end.”
The Green Party MSP warned that failure to break the agreement could lead to “years” of fighting over development at the site. Scottish Enterprise said: “As the petition recognises, we are currently bound by the legal terms of an exclusivity agreement.
“However, we continue to consider the interests of the local community as we work to help the economy recover from the impact of the Covid pandemic.”
Plans for a major development and the sale of publicly owned land within the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park were initially lodged in May 2018.
Following the submission of more than 30,000 objections, the developer delayed its response to the National Park’s request for changes and further details.
It was estimated the development would create 80 full-time jobs, 50 part-time jobs and 70 seasonal roles in the area.