Flamingo Land: Protesters say 'SNP Government doesn't have the balls' to reject Loch Lomond mega-resort

Campaigners who want to block plans to build a Flamingo Land resort at Loch Lomond say it is “absolutely astonishing” the Scottish Government has given the development its approval.

Dozens of protesters gathered outside the Scottish Parliament on Thursday after a Government reporter overturned a decision to deny proposals to build the theme park at Loch Lomond.

Green MSP Ross Greer led the protest, saying the “mega-resort” would be “destructive” to the national park.

Flamingo Land protestors outside the Scottish Parliament with Ross Greer MSP. | Andrew Milligan/Press Association

John Swinney insisted he would always “cherish” Scotland’s natural environment, as he was pressed on the Flamingo Land decision at First Minister’s Questions.

Mr Greer said the Government did have the powers to overturn the reporter’s decision, pointing to a previous planning application made by US President Donald Trump to build a golf course on the Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire.

Yorkshire-based Flamingo Land wants to build a £40 million resort called Lomond Banks, which will include a waterpark, monorail, hotel and restaurants.

The proposals were initially rejected back in September by the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority on environmental and conservation grounds.

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Flamingo Land then appealed to the Scottish Government reporter, who has since granted permission.

Among the protesters were sisters Kit and Janet Lawson, who learned to swim in Loch Lomond as children.

Kit Lawson said: “I’ve known the area all my life, Loch Lomond is just part of my heritage.

Sisters Kit and Janet Lawson with dog Jess. | Rachel Amery

“I am 73 years old and that is a long time for somebody to now come along and totally destroy it. The traffic is awful, it will do nothing for local jobs or the local community except damage it.

“Everything will be done in-house and that will take money away from local hotels, cafes and shops. It is really upsetting that our Government just doesn’t seem to have the balls to fight and they’ve learned no lessons from Trump.”

She added: “Recall - you can do it, and everybody will be happy. I find it absolutely astonishing they aren’t listening.”

Janet Lawson added: “There are enough problems on the A83 and A82 with traffic and this will only make it worse.

Janet Lawson | Andrew Milligan/Press Association

“Tourists want to come to the bonny banks - is the first thing you want to see a monorail and theme park rides?

“People go to Loch Lomond to walk, use the water and go climbing, not to go on park rides. That is fine in the middle of Yorkshire where there is not a lot to do, but everyone has heard of Loch Lomond.

“They are not listening and the public support to stop this is massive.”

An illustration showing what Flamingo Land at Loch Lomond would look like | contributed

Scottish Green co-convener Patrick Harvie later said to Mr Swinney: “It’s been opposed by the National Trust for Scotland, by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, and by over 155,000 people, and rejected unanimously by the national park.

“It’s the most unpopular development in the history of the Scottish planning system.

“I know the First Minister will tell us that he can’t comment on a specific appeal, but his minister has already made a political decision - it took [Public Finance Minister] Ivan McKee just two working days to announce his refusal to act in the public interest and recall the appeal.

“He, and the First Minister, have to be accountable for that now.”

Mr Harvie also accused the First Minister of failing to “acknowledge the scale of the anger” and “backing greedy developers”.

Mr Swinney said it was “not appropriate” to comment on the proposals as it remained a live appeal, but stressed the Government reporter allowed the appeal subject to 49 separate planning conditions.