Flamingo Land's Lomond Banks: Is the fight over and what happens next?

On Monday, the decision was made by the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority Board to unanimously reject the application on the recommendation of the planning team.

That came after a long day of debate and discussion inside Lomond Parish Church where both sides were able to get their points across.

But what comes next for Flamingo Land’s Lomond Banks project and the area as a whole?

Read More: 

• Flamingo Land's Lomond Banks failed to move with the times

• Ross Greer offers Flamingo Land olive branch as emotional campaigners celebrate win

• Flamingo Land development on Loch Lomond banks unanimously rejected by board

Why the decision was made?

It was a unanimous decision from board to follow the recommendation of the planning committee and refuse permission for Flamingo Land’s Lomond Banks proposal.

All 14 members of the board raised their hand when asked if they agreed with the recommendation. They came to that conclusion largely because of the environmental impact it would have on the area. Biodiversity and flood risk were the main talking points throughout the day that were causing issues with disagreements between the applicants and the planning team at Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority.

The amount of trees which would be lost was a sticking point. SEPA’s objection to the plans was arguably the biggest issue but the fact the application failed to satisfy the policies of National Planning Framework 4 meant it was doomed from the off.

Is this the end of the Lomond Banks project?

The reality is that right now, nobody knows. The people behind the project have remained relatively silent since the decision was announced shortly before 7pm on Monday night.

They did release a statement and say they remain ‘fully committed to the process’ and believe they have a ‘really strong case’. That would suggest they will come back with another bid and an appeal is one of the likely routes they will go down.

Speaking after the decision yesterday, the convenor of the board Dr Heather Reid said it was completely up to them and they would have to deal with it if it did come back.

If they do decide to, it would likely lead to another lengthy battle between the two sides. If it was eventually improved, 

Campaigners celebrate their victory (Image: Colin Mearns)

Ending the exclusivity deal

Ross Greer spoke in the immediate aftermath one of his main points was that he would be petitioning the Scottish Government to remove the exclusive deal that Flamingo Land have with the area.

Under the terms of an agreement with Scottish Enterprise, the firm has exclusive rights to develop the site.

Mr Greer is now determined to get that removed and that is something that the Balloch and Haldane Community Council also want to happen.

Speaking exclusively to The Herald, long-term campaigner Allanah Maurer said: “Under the 2015 Community Empowerment Act which the Scottish Government enacted, we should be asking for the removal of the exclusivity.

“That has been our nemesis for eight years, until that is removed we’re excluded and we’re the only part of Scotland being excluded from our rights under the empowerment act, i.e our right to buy and move forward with this land.”

What do locals want?

Balloch and Haldane Community Council are now working towards building a community development fund and have already started raising money.

Another key campaigner and member of the council is Lynne Somerville and she admitted it took a minute to get people onside with it but they are now right behind them.

She said: “We’re going to be looking at alternatives to help the local community and the visiting tourists.

“There’s a lot of work to do but it’s good work because it’s building rather than fighting.”

That line is something that Ms Maurer also agreed with. She now hopes that the community can get the land back into community ownership and use the Community Empowerment Act of 2015 to do so.

She said: “The fight to save Loch Lomond is over and we’ve now moved to stage two of a community development fund. Save Loch Lomond was stage one but now it’s about engaging with the community.

“What we need to do as a result of yesterday’s triumph as campaigners and for those who cherish their national landscape across Scotland, we need to redefine in the public’s eye and the mind’s eye, in the local area, we need to redefine as a nation what a national park means to us.

“A national park is to enhance and conserve the natural cultural heritage of our land and that isn’t building a water park, theme park or anything else of that size right on your major asset.”