Scots Gov official who approved Flamingo Land will lead the review into decision
A review of the Scottish Government's widely criticised move to approve Flamingo Land's Loch Lomond resort will be led by the same official who gave it the green light.
The Sunday Mail has learned Scottish Government Reporter David Buylla – who gave the controversial £43.5million project in Balloch planning permission – will now advise SNP ministers who have been forced to call in the decision for reappraisal.
Furious activists say it showed the process was a 'sham'.
The government was forced to U-turn on the initial backing for the lochside resort by Buylla – a top civil servant – amid local opposition and the threat of a parliamentary defeat.
Community councillor Lynne Somerville said: 'It beggars belief they're allowing the same man that caused this outrage in the first place to write this new report. There's a complete conflict of interest and I think that really needs to be recognised by the Scottish Government.'
Board members of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park are also opposed to the development.
Dubbed ' Lomond Banks', the resort by Yorkshire theme park operator Flamingo Land would see a waterpark, a monorail, hotels, restaurants, a brewery and 104 woodland chalets built.
After 50,000 people signed a petition urging ministers to reconsider the decision, Public Finance Minister Ivan McKee 'called in' the appeal last month, meaning ministers will consider it directly.
But we can reveal the same Reporter, Buylla, is tasked with writing a new report including recommendations to inform McKee's decision.
Somerville said: 'Why does Ivan McKee or anyone else think it's appropriate the same man is being asked to produce the report that will influence, guide and steer the outcome?
"It's like they are trying to hide behind him and he is being used as the proverbial scapegoat. It does not paint the Scottish Government in a good light.'
Scottish Government Reporters are civil servants within the Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) who decide on planning appeals.
Buylla is one of five principal reporters at the DPEA, which also has a chief reporter and three assistant chief reporters.
Alannah Maurer, campaigner with the Save Loch Lomond campaign, said: 'You'd assume someone else would have been assigned. You have to consider professional integrity because how does he say anything other than what he previously said?
'It's absolutely clear there is no democracy, particularly where planning is concerned. The developer can appeal but the public has no right of appeal.
'Our best hope is that ministers will see sense, pay attention to the public – but it's clear public opinion counts for nothing.'
Buylla's continued involvement in the appeal was first revealed by environmental campaigner and blogger Nick Kempe, who branded Scotland's planning system a 'farce'.
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!
If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
He wrote last week: "It appears the DPEA is still very much in charge.
'Without any instructions/steer from Mr McKee about what he wishes Mr Buylla to reconsider, it is difficult to see why he would change anything substantial in his report.'
Tory West Scotland MSP Pam Gosal said: 'Given the controversy surrounding the SNP's handling of this issue, serious questions must be answered about the appropriateness of this latest appointment.
'Instead of continually forcing solutions and railroading their plans through parliament, SNP ministers should instead heed the widespread concerns of locals who firmly oppose the Flamingo Land proposals at Loch Lomond.'
Scottish Green MSP Ross Greer commented: 'Ministers cannot hide behind officials when the gateway to Loch Lomond is at stake. They need to take control of this process themselves.
'For a start, they must do what did not happen at the appeal stage; speak to the community, to myself and others like the Woodland Trust who submitted substantial evidence against Flamingo Land's destructive plans.
'They absolutely must speak to the National Park's own planning experts, whose report advising their board to reject the application was clearly badly misunderstood by Government officials.'The Planning Minister should call a public hearing and come to his own decision based on the evidence. Rehashing the same flawed report from officials and waiting until after next year's election to sign it off would be totally unacceptable."
Last month, developers Lomond Banks criticised the decision to recall the decision to approve and hit out at "hysteria" over the proposals which they say will bring much-needed jobs and investment to the area.
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: 'Ministers decided to recall the Lomond Banks appeal as the proposed development raises issues of national significance in view of its potential impact on Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.
'As this is a live planning appeal it would not be appropriate to comment further.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
7 hours ago
- The Independent
Minister vows ‘improvements' to Internal Market Act
The UK Government is promising 'improvements' will be made to a key piece of post- Brexit legislation – with trade policy minister Douglas Alexander conceding there are 'real concerns' about how the laws have operated to date. Mr Alexander however made clear that ministers have not considered scrapping the Internal Market Act (IMA), with the Scottish Government branding the results of the Westminster review 'completely unacceptable'. Angus Robertson, the Scottish Government's Constitution Secretary, insisted the legislation – which Holyrood has twice voted against – 'undermines' the Scottish Parliament. Mr Alexander however said the UK Government has 'been explicit about the need for businesses to have certainty', saying this is 'why the review has not considered repeal of the Act or any of its provisions'. He said the UK Government has instead 'pledged to explore improvements in the way the Act's provisions operate', adding 'very real concerns' have been raised. Following the UK's departure from the European Union, the then Tory UK government introduced the IMA in order to create a single market across the four nations of the UK. The legislation however caused difficulties for the Scottish Government when it attempted to introduce a deposit return scheme for empty cans and bottles ahead of the rest of the UK. In the wake of the review, the UK Government is promising changes, including the introduction of exclusions to the legislation, that have been agreed by all governments within a common framework. As well as considering economic impacts, issues of environmental protection and public health will also be looked at for exclusions – with the UK Government saying this ensures a 'balance of factors is considered'. Mr Alexander stressed the importance of having a 'well-functioning UK internal market' as part of the Government's 'ambition to improve economic growth for the benefit of businesses and people in all parts of our country'. He added: 'Latest figures show that trade between the four nations of the UK is valued at £129 billion and that it is particularly important to the economies of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.' But Mr Robertson insisted the IMA had been introduced by the previous Conservative government 'without the consent of any devolved government or Parliament'. Speaking about the legislation, he added: 'It undermines the ability of the Scottish Parliament to use its powers to pursue devolved social and economic objectives in Scotland for the people to which it is accountable. 'It introduces radical new uncertainty as to the effect of laws passed by the Scottish Parliament and effectively provides a veto to UK ministers. 'Nothing set out in the UK Government's response to the review changes this position, which is completely unacceptable. 'The conclusion of the review falls well short of our stated position of repeal and replace the Internal Market Act, and indeed short of the legislative change required to mitigate the most damaging aspects of the operation of the IMA. 'It is important also to note that the Scottish Parliament has twice voted to repeal the Act – since it is fundamentally misconceived and incompatible with devolution.' While he said the Scottish Government welcomes the UK Government's intention 'to address some of the most egregious issues with the function of the IMA exclusions process', he added that SNP ministers 'remain concerned that there is no clear vehicle to give meaningful effect to these changes, which work against our shared interests to promote growth, protect jobs and ensure seamless trade across the UK nations'.
The Herald Scotland
8 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Equipping leaders of tomorrow with the skills to unlock growth
However, adversity breeds ingenuity and no other industry is as well set up as ours to innovate. To do this, we must rewire how we think about leadership. Often people are promoted into management positions because they excelled at their previous role. Previous success in sales, operations, manufacturing or quality control testing, does not necessarily translate into having the skills you need to lead effectively. The Chartered Management Institute calls this phenomenon "accidental managers". As part of their new role, and this can apply right across the Scottish economy, new leaders should be equipped with the frameworks and skills that will allow them to build strong, empowered teams that deliver greater business value and impact. I believe we need a leadership skills accelerator that can practically upskill managers within a short timeframe. Delivered through a partnership between industry and academia, the accelerator could become a recognised benchmark for excellence, future-proofing talent pipelines and elevating Scotland's international profile in life sciences. I envisage it offering intensive, hands-on, real-world training, ensuring future managers understand the role of a leader and possess the strategic thinking necessary to succeed. Not only would this deliver growth in the quality of our people, it would also raise health, safety and quality standards which are so vital to the life sciences sector. Importantly, it would foster the innovation and collaboration required to streamline our manufacturing processes and research, combatting the commercial challenges posed by macroeconomic forces. This is vital in industries where innovation moves quickly and regulatory landscapes can continually change. Organisations like the Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service, Skills Development Scotland and others already offer valuable practical leadership training. With a compact geography, engaged and connected industry leaders and strong and active support from the Scottish Government, this could be improved and rolled out relatively easily, turning our accidental managers into intentional leaders. This is something I'm passionate about and we are committed to as an organisation with continued focus on training and development for our people. But more can be done at an industry level to ingrain this mindset for future generations. When so often we are talking about the lack of growth in the Scottish and UK economy, investing in leadership could help unlock productivity gains and even drive export growth, ultimately delivering the results our public finances needs. But effective leadership is not just good for the country's bottom line. It is critical for national resilience, especially in the face of current geopolitical instability and recent public health crises. Greig Rooney CMgr FCMI is the Managing Director of Valneva Scotland Agenda is a column for outside contributors. Contact: agenda@
Daily Record
10 hours ago
- Daily Record
Pensioners in Scotland to receive between £101 and £305 heating bill help before winter
The Scottish Government has confirmed the amounts, eligibility and qualifying period for Pension Age Winter Heating Payments. Pension Credit – Could you or someone you know be eligible? The Scottish Government has confirmed details of this year's Pension Age Winter Heating Payments (PAWHP) which are due to start landing in bank accounts from November. The devolved benefit has now replaced Winter Fuel Payments for all pensioners with a Scottish postcode and follows similar eligibility rules to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). However, Scots pensioners will see a slight increase in the amounts issued by Social Security Scotland as they increased in April as part of the annual uprating exercise. The payments of £101.70, £203.40 and £305.10 will be made automatically to pensioners born before September 21, 1959 with an income at or below £35,000. Similar to the Winter Fuel Payment policy, pensioners in Scotland will also be able to opt out receiving the payment. More information on how to do this will be available by Autumn 2025. The newly updated guidance on gives an overview of the benefit, eligibility, qualifying criteria and the payment rates. How much money you will receive is based on: your age the age of anyone you live with who is also eligible for Pension Age Winter Heating Payment if you receive certain benefits from DWP as a joint award The guidance adds: 'Most eligible people will be paid automatically. These payments will be made from November 2025. 'If your taxable income is over £35,000, His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will take back your Pension Age Winter Heating Payment through the tax system.' Remember, if your income is above £35,000 you will be able to opt out. Payment rates Full details on the payments will be published before the Autumn, but as a general guide: £101.70 - pensioners living in residential care £2003.40 - pensioners born between September 22, 1945 and September 21, 1959 £305.10 - pensioners born before September 22, 1945 It had also stated that people aged between 66 and 79 on a qualifying means-tested benefit such as Pension Credit will receive £203. 40 and those aged 80 and over on a qualifying means-tested benefit will receive £305.10. Eligibility for Pension Age Winter Heating Payment Social Security Scotland will check your eligibility during the qualifying week of Monday, September 15 to Sunday, September 21, 2025. To be eligible, you must have: been born on, or before, September 21, 1959 lived in Scotland during the qualifying week You will not be eligible if you: were in hospital getting free treatment for the whole qualifying week and the 52 weeks leading up to it were in custody, under a sentence imposed by a court, for the whole qualifying week need permission to enter the UK and your granted leave says you cannot claim public funds If you live in residential care Residential care means a care home or a hospital that is not part of the NHS. You will not be eligible for winter 2025 to 2026 if all the following apply to you: you were in residential care for the whole qualifying week, and you went into care before June 23, 2025, and during the qualifying week, you were in receipt of Pension Credit, Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Income Support, Universal Credit To be eligible, you still need to: be born on, or before, September 21, 1959 live in Scotland You can read the latest information on this year's Pension Age Winter Heating Payment on here.
