'I am convinced Lomond Banks can be good for our area'

As chaplain to the Vale of Leven Academy I watch the children leaving at the end of a school day and wonder what the future holds for them. Where will they find work? Well, Lomond Banks will create hundreds of jobs. They have agreed to pay the National Living Wage and have committed to employ locally, which many who live in this community would certainly welcome.

Much has been made by the opposition to the development that alternative uses for the site have never been explored. Prior to the 2018 National Park meeting to decide on the proposal last time round, over 200 people met in Lomond Parish Church to strongly voice their opposition. It was agreed then that a community-backed alternative must be sought and there was a call for an urgent public meeting. Such a meeting was later called, which attracted much less numbers of around 20 to 30 people. The agenda was simply to consider alternative usage for the site in question. There have been no further meetings to establish whether any of the suggestions made that night were viable until recently and again the uptake was poor.

Respected groups, like Friends of Loch Lomond, the previous Balloch Community Council and Alexandria Community Council did give conditional approval to the previous plans. The members of those groups had a lifelong commitment to the betterment of this area and the protection of our natural environment. I have spent 49 years here. I love the place, I love the people – they have been incredibly good to me and mine. I have laughed with them at weddings and christenings, I have wept with them when they have lost a loved one. I can assure you I would support nothing that I believed might be to the detriment of this place

As to the much vaunted “Save the Loch” petition. I believe it was disingenuous. Was all 22.6 miles at risk? The Loch is not at risk, and indeed the risks of its industrial past have always posed more of a danger than some proposed eco lodges, and those of us living locally will ensure it survives to be enjoyed in the future by succeeding generations. I hope that the public will be able to separate fact from fiction, including this will be no theme park. It gets my vote! Now is the time for us all in a non-confrontational way, to seek answers from the developers and to receive reassurances - because I believe they are there to be given. Let is hold them to their promise that what is being built will be eco-friendly.

Is it detrimental to our visual appreciation of the Loch? One might argue no more than the new Cameron House Extension or the present Lomond Shores. Save the Loch? If we felt there was the slightest risk to the Queen of Scottish Lochs, we would all be standing shoulder to shoulder in opposition. I also wonder if for every valid signature on that petition, there would be many who might struggle to find the exact location of the development on a map.

I believe Balloch needs this, as does the community of the Vale of Leven and the entire West Dumbarton area. I hope and pray that this time sanity will prevail . The claim is made that Balloch is “one of the most desirable tourist’s destinations in Scotland.” Will this development make it more attractive? I would say so. I believe that Lomond Banks will provide inward investment, bring employment to the area and make Balloch the gateway to the National Park that it deserves to be.

Reverend Ian Mitchell (Image: Freelancer)

I speak as an individual) but indicative of my commitment to the local community and concern for the local community is that (a) I am acting chair of Alexandria Community Council, (b) at present parish minister of the area in question and have served the community for 49 years in recognition of which I was made a Freeman of West Dumbarton.

Let us lay aside emotion and accept that the land in question was a former industrial site bought for a specific purpose of leisure and tourism and then weigh up the pro and cons. I will let others argue the “cons” but here is what I understand could be the “Pro’s”.

1 Inward investment in our community of around 40 million.

2 Training and employment of local people who will be paid the “ real living wage” with no zero hour contracts.

3 A commitment to local businesses that Lomond Banks will work with them as “partners” (Most of whom say privately they support the development but will not speak publicly because they fear a backlash from those who oppose it having witnessed the abuse others have already received via social media.)

4 Engaging with the community to ensure that what is created will be something that we can all be proud of.

5 Protection and care of Drumkinnon Woods.

6 An eco-friendly approach in the material they use and the buildings they create .

In the past this site employed people from our community. It was an industrial site that formerly housed a dye works, a sand pit and a railway shunting yard. Now here is an opportunity for the young folk of our community to be once again employed in that locality in an environment that will be so much more congenial that those who worked there in the past ever experienced. Much claim has been made about the beauty of this “dear green place” in question. I wonder would you take your long lost cousin up Pier Road if you wished him to see the wonders of Loch Lomond but even if you wished to do that there is a clear statement that “ local access will not be denied”. It will be well lit and that has to be a plus for sometimes on dark nights it is a “no go area”.

A few years ago philanthropist Sir Tom Hunter, was given the green light to build Scotland’s first dedicated leadership training centre on the grounds of Ross Priory near Gartocharn. It would have been a great asset to our community but again there was opposition … “Not in My Back Yard” and Tom decided to look elsewhere and we were the losers. I hope we don’t lose out this time. I am convinced that this can be good for our area. I have always lived with the mantra that I could be wrong so I would simply say…. In the cool light of day weigh up the facts and come to your own conclusion. 

Reverend Ian Miller is the chaplain at Vale of Leven Academy and chair of the Alexandria Community Council