The Loch Lomond & the Trossachs Authority Board unanimously decided against approving the construction of the Flamingo Land resort on Monday, 16 September, due to the recommendation of the planning team.
The proposed resort has been a point of contention since it was first announced in 2018, with campaigners using council meetings and interviews to convince the Board to side with either party.
A petition to stop construction from going ahead at the time was signed by more than 174,000 people.
After the initial backlash in 2018 the company withdrew its plans for Flamingo Land in Scotland, but returned in 2020 with a greater monetary proposal.
During countless meetings with the local community to discuss the planning for Flamingo Land one representative stated they were “fatigued” by the disagreements and insistence of the theme park operators to create this park.
The backlash was fierce in local areas, a member of Balloch and Haldane community council said the idea “goes against the very will of the people who live in the area”, and the backlash continued to grow throughout the nation.
Speaking to The Student following the announcement on Monday, Green MSP for West Scotland and vocal critic of the plans, Ross Greer, said:
“The rejection of Flamingo Land’s proposed destructive Loch Lomond mega-resort is a huge victory for the community of Balloch, for nature and for Scotland” he continued.
“After this defeat, I’m calling on Flamingo Land to drop their plans for good and end this decade-long saga”.
In a statement after the verdict on Monday, the company stated they remain “fully committed to the process” as they believe their case is “really strong”.
“Loch Lomond from Conic Hill” by Matito is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
