With less than a month to go till a decision is made on the controversial Lomond Banks development, the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority has published a plan of key dates and called for “those with conflicting views on the application to respect the planning process”.
The development, which has gained more than 140,000 objections through a petition portal, has been described as the most objected to planning application in Scottish history, and the decision over its fate will be made by Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Authority (LLTNPA) board on September 16. The statement highlights the rising tensions in a fraught and long-running which began eight years ago when Flamingo Land was announced as preferred bidder for the site.
Heather Reid, convener of the park authority board, urged those with “conflicting views” to “allow events on Monday 16th September to be carried out in an orderly manner” and for there to be no “disruptions” on the day. She said: “It is important that Board Members hear all viewpoints before reaching a decision.”
“There is significant public interest in this planning application and I want to reassure anyone with an interest - whether in favour of or in objection to the application – that due process is being followed to the letter.
“It is in everyone’s interest that the site visit, public hearing and board meeting on September 16 are conducted in an orderly manner and that an informed decision can be made by Board Members. Disruption on the day could result in the site visit being abandoned or the hearing being adjourned and those outcomes benefit nobody."
The detailed plan sets out key dates and processes for the decision on a major planning application in Balloch. These include:
The publication of the report recommending whether Board Members should approve or refuse the application (from the National Park Authority’s Director of Place) on the National Park Authority website, on, it is expected, September 2.
This report, the LLTNPA notes will be a “recommendation only”:” The final decision whether to approve or refuse the application will be made by the National Park Authority Board on Monday 16th September.”
The hearing and board meeting will be held in public on September 16 at Lomond Parish Church in Balloch, which has a capacity of 200, to ensure that “as many observers as possible are able to attend”.
These, says the LLTNPA, “are not ‘public meetings"’ – "which means that members of the public are welcome to observe but are not able to participate in proceedings unless they have applied to speak in advance and been confirmed as a speaker via the official process.”
The park authority also states: “Anyone, or any organisation, that has submitted a formal representation on the application directly to the National Park Authority, will be notified by email or letter (in line with how their formal representation was submitted to the National Park Authority) and given details on how they can request to speak at the Hearing on 16th September.”
Given the “significant public interest and the number of representations”, the LLTNPA says, “the normal restrictions on numbers of speakers will not be applied”.
“Depending on the number of requests to speak, a limit may have to be applied. Where appropriate, speakers will be encouraged to appoint a spokesperson to represent their collective views, particularly where there are a large number of people raising the same issues."
The meeting will also be live-streamed.
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West of Scotland Scottish Green MSP Ross Greer, a key figure in the campaign against the development, welcomed the alteration to time restrictions for speakers.
He said: "I'm glad the National Park has decided to suspend its standing orders and allow for the substantial debate clearly required for a proposal as destructive as Flamingo Land. I had previously raised in writing that the normal format of five minutes for all objectors other than the community council would equate to about 0.002 seconds per individual who has lodged their opposition, which clearly wouldn't have been acceptable.
"The long list of reasons for rejecting this mega-resort include the flood risk, more than 250 additional cars on congested local roads at peak times, damage to local wildlife and risk to existing local businesses. It is only right that every one of these points is given enough time to be carefully weighed up against Flamingo Land's spin."
"The decision to livestream proceedings is also a big improvement on the proposed 2019 hearing and will boost public confidence that this decision is being taken in an open and transparent manner. The National Park has been given a difficult task and I appreciate the work they are putting in to ensure the public's voice will be heard at what is probably the most high-profile planning hearing in Scottish history."
Jim Paterson, Development Director for Lomond Banks, said: “We are encouraged by The Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park’s commitment to a proper and fair process to determine our proposals and welcome the extra detail that has been published today. We have worked incredibly hard over the past two years to create detailed plans from respective specialists to showcase the merits and suitability for the site from an ecology, biodiversity, business and tourism perspective.
“Many misconceptions continue to circulate about our plans, for example that this is the last area of land in public ownership on the loch, or that access will be cut off for locals, neither of which is true. We have listened to the feedback from local stakeholders and the National Park and incorporated it into our legally binding Lomond Promise – which may form part of a planning agreement further along the process – to factor in some of the key considerations highlighted throughout this planning journey such as jobs, training, transport, working with the local supply chain etc."
A site visit will also take place for board members on the morning of September 16. LLTNPA states; “Members of the public and the media may observe the site visit but there is no opportunity to speak or to ask questions – a site visit is an important part of the decision-making process and it is vital that it is carried out in an orderly and respectful manner to allow board members to receive the relevant information from those conducting the site visit.
Dr Reid said: “We are making the Hearing and Board Meeting as open and accessible as possible and have secured a large local venue for that reason. The meeting will also be streamed online for those unable to access the venue. In addition to the planning report, which will reference representations made both for and against the application, we will ensure Board Members hear from a balanced range of speakers at the Hearing to help inform their decision.
“In the meantime, we will provide regular updates to the public, to key stakeholders including Balloch and Haldane Community Council, and to the media on the process being followed.”
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