AMULTI-million pound tourist attraction on the shores of Loch Lomond looks set to be transformed into a sea-life centre.
Drumkinnon Tower was heralded as a centrepiece attraction of the Loch Lomond Shores development at Balloch when it was launched three years ago.
However, in light of poor visitor numbers, Scottish Enterprise, owner of the the site, has decided to lease the mock castle to Merlin Entertainments, a group which intends to turn it into an aquarium-style tourist centre.
The firm, which runs the Sea Life and Earth Explorer chains along with the Legoland theme parks, has lodged plans with West Dunbartonshire Council for its [pounds]3.4m scheme to renovate the 115ft tower, which housed an Imax cinema, restaurant, children's theatre and visitor centre.
The move has been severely criticised by animal welfare groups, which have vowed to conduct public protests outside the revamped centre if it opens as a marine attraction.
They claim the water attraction, featuring Asiatic otters and tropical fish, will damage the loch's natural environment and harm the captive animals.
Activists' group Advocates for Animals has already written to every councillor in West Dunbartonshire in advance of the local authority considering Merlin's application for a zoo licence.
Another body, Animal Concern, says the development will fail to establish a natural habitat for the animals, instead creating a "mini zoo".
It too has urged members of the public to boycott the attraction should it be given the go-ahead.
However, a spokesman for Merlin pointed out that the company has operated marine sanctuaries across Europe for more than two decades, and the Drumkinnon Tower project will focus heavily on education and conservation while adhering to animal welfare concerns.
Scottish Enterprise Dunbartonshire insisted that such a nature-based attraction represented a vital step in increasing visitor numbers to the shores of the loch, and would complement the national park.
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