Flamingo Land accuses critics of 'sensationalist hysteria'

The director behind a controversial proposal to site a holiday park on the shores of Loch Lomond has accused critics of "hysteria and mistruth".

Jim Paterson, Lomond Banks' development director, said opponents of the plan had run a campaign with "baseless and offensive" claims about the Flamingo Land company.

The Scottish government last week stalled plans for the holiday park at Loch Lomond.

But Mr Paterson said the move raised serious questions about the integrity of Scottish planning and risked investment in the country.

The £40m resort would feature a waterpark, monorail, hotel and restaurants, but it has attracted criticism from locals and politicians.

The Green MSP Ross Greer, a long-time critic of the development, said the comments were "desperate stuff" and the company's own documents indicated the resort would cause damage.

Flamingo Land believed the proposal was set to be given the green light after an appeal to the Scottish government reporter overturned a rejection by Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park authority.

However Public Finance Minister Ivan McKee last week said he would recall the plans as they raised "issues of national significance".

Mr Paterson said the government decision "undermines the objective and independent judgment of the DPEA (Planning and Environmental Appeals Division) reporter".

He also confirmed the company - which has operated a theme park in North Yorkshire since 1959 - would take legal advice.

Mr Paterson added: "The land in question has been allocated for sustainable tourism development for decades, a fact acknowledged by the DPEA reporter.

"To have this long-established planning context disregarded at the eleventh hour raises serious questions, not only about the integrity and consistency of the Scottish planning system but also about Scotland as an investment destination."

Opponents of the plan, including Scottish Greens MSP Ross Greer, have argued the resort would cause considerable damage to the Loch Lomond area, affecting woodland and resulting in a huge amount of extra traffic in the region.

But Mr Paterson said Greer's claims were an attempt to "stoke public fear and misinformation".

He added: "The opposition has, unfortunately, relied on a sensationalist and misleading campaign, filled with hysteria, mistruths and inaccuracies, some of which disconcertingly continued to be relayed in last week's parliament debate."

The director argued the Lomond Banks plan would not dominate the area as claimed.

Mr Paterson said the development would "front onto" 280m (0.28km) - 0.2% of Loch Lomond's 153.5 km (95.4 miles) shoreline.

The Lomond Banks director also pledged green spaces, like the ancient woodland at Drumkinnon Wood, would be protected.

Mr Paterson called on the Scottish government to "see through the hysteria" when making a decision.

And he said it was "baseless and offensive" for critics to accuse the Yorkshire company of infiltrating Scotland as it was registered in Scotland.

Ross Greer told BBC Scotland News the comments were "more desperate stuff from a millionaire developer who just won't take no for an answer."

He added: "Gordon Gibb and Flamingo Land have treated the people of Balloch with complete contempt for a decade and they cannot stand it that the community has fought back with such success."

The MSP said it was "laughable to be accused of exaggeration" as protestors had quoted directly from the company's own documents.

Flamingo Land first submitted plans for the site in 2018, but withdrew them the following year after a wave of negative reaction.

It submitted updated plans in 2020, insisting the proposal would be a "major step away" from its other resorts.

The company have also argued the plans would boost employment in the region - a claim dismissed by critics who said most jobs would be short-term roles.

The row has rumbled on over the last five years, with local community councils and environmental body Sepa expressing concerns.

Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park authority board unanimously voted against the development in September 2024, ruling that it did not comply with environmental and nature conservation policies.

At the time Stuart Pearce, director of place for the park authority, said the resort plan created an "unacceptable risk" of flooding of the River Leven.