MP demands Swinney steps in and recalls Flamingo Land approval
In September 2024, the Yorkshire-based theme park operator, Flamingo Land Ltd, had their planning permission in principle rejected by all 14 board members in attendance.
The £40m proposals could create more than 100 holiday lodges, two hotels, a waterpark, a monorail, 372 car parking spaces, shops, and more on the site called 'Lomond Banks'.
Planning permission in principle will be subject to a legal agreement being reached.
READ MORE:
Conservation charity welcomes Flamingo Land decision
The final decision has therefore been deferred for the period detailed in the Notice of Intention to allow the conclusion of that agreement.
Douglas McAllister MP has called for First Minister John Swinney to intervene in proceedings.
He said: "A single Scottish Government appointed reporter overruling the collective will of the local planning authority and overwhelming and sustained public opposition to the application, is unacceptable.
Douglas McAllister MP (Image: Colin Mearns)"It is doubly disappointing to hear today that the relevant Scottish Government Minister, is refusing to use his powers to call-in the application, and therefore such is the importance of this site at Balloch and Loch Lomond, a national symbol of Scotland's scenic beauty and world-renowned, it is entirely appropriate that the First Minister now steps in immediately to call-in this application and urgently review the decision of his own Planning and Environmental Appeals Division of the Scottish Government.
"I have received countless emails and letters of disappointment and disgust from my West Dunbartonshire constituents at this SNP Scottish Government's decision, and it is simply not good enough for the Scottish Ministers and the First Minister to wash their hands of this outcome.
"They have the power to call it in and should be doing so now.
"It would be incredibly disappointing for the SNP Scottish Government to ignore these calls."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Leader Live
28 minutes ago
- Leader Live
SNP came ‘frustratingly close' to victory in Hamilton, says Swinney
Scottish Labour's Davy Russell won a surprise victory on Thursday, with the SNP coming second and Reform in third. The by-election had been sparked by the death of Scottish Government minister and SNP MSP, Christina McKelvie, who had held the seat since 2011, with the party hoping to keep it in the fold. Despite the First Minister's claim that the contest was a straight fight between the SNP and Nigel Farage's surging Reform UK, the Labour candidate won with 8,559 votes to the 7,957 of the SNP's Katy Loudon. Speaking to the PA news agency in Glasgow, the First Minister said the party had made 'modest progress' since its collapse at last year's general election – when it dropped from 48 MPs to just nine – but had further to go. 'We had a very strong campaign in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse,' he said. 'We had hundreds of members of the party that came to make their contribution to the by-election campaign – we've got to build on that. 'We've got to learn the lessons of the by-election. 'We came very close, it was frustratingly close.' Coming second in the vote, the First Minister said, is an 'indication that we are still able to perform strongly electorally'. The First Minister added that his party lost the overlapping seat at Westminster – Hamilton and Clyde Valley – by 9,000 votes last year and by just 600 on Thursday. 'So, we are quite clearly in a position where we can achieve electoral success, but we have got to build on that and make sure we're stronger for 2026,' he said. In the final weeks of the campaign, the First Minister predicted the contest would be between his party and Reform UK but, asked if such an assertion – which turned out to be wrong – cast doubt on the data used by the SNP, he appeared to suggest it was based on his own perception. 'I'm just making two points about the by-election, two observations,' he said. 'One was that Labour support was collapsing, and from last year to Thursday, Labour support collapsed by 20%, came down from 50% to 30%. 'And I observed, secondly, that Reform support was surging and it was, so my analysis of the by-election was absolutely correct. 'I simply said to people if you want to stop Reform, vote for the SNP.' Despite the by-election loss, the party continues to lead in the polls ahead of next year, with Mr Swinney saying the Government must 'deliver on the priorities of the people of Scotland'.
The National
30 minutes ago
- The National
Nicola Sturgeon's memoir Frankly – here's what we know so far
The former first minister's hotly anticipated memoir is set to hit the shelves in the coming months. Published by Pan MacMillan and titled Frankly, the book is likely to dominate headlines once it is available. So, here's what we know about it so far. READ MORE: Ruth Maguire reveals she's cancer free and 'excited to return to work' 'Deeply personal' Announced in August 2023, Sturgeon said the book would be 'deeply personal and revealing'. Pan MacMillan won a bidding war out of nine publishers at an auction after she resigned as first minister in February that year. The book will tell the story of Sturgeon's childhood in Ayrshire as well as her career in politics, where she was Scotland's first female first minister and the longest serving in Holyrood's history. She also worked with five different prime ministers during her time in office. Sturgeon said at the time the book was announced that writing it was 'exciting, if also daunting'. (Image: Andrew Milligan) 'Restrictions' Under the Radcliffe Rules, former government ministers, civil servants and special advisers are free to publish memoirs of their time in office. However, this has to be signed off by the Permanent Secretary, Scotland's most senior civil servant, who will review the manuscript to make sure it doesn't impact national security interests, intergovernmental relations, or anything confidential. According to documents recently published on the Scottish Government's website and released via FOI, Sturgeon's memoir passed checks with no changes. Officials were sent four hard copies of the book, with the documents revealing that 'at all times strong security arrangements have been observed' and that only a small number of staff had access to it. 'On the basis of advice from my review group, it is not considered that any changes are required to the manuscript in order to comply with the Radcliffe Rules or the Scottish Ministerial Code,' John-Paul Marks, the former permanent secretary, wrote to Sturgeon in April. READ MORE: Labour Government 'must protect' UK-flagged Madleen aid ship Publication The book is due to be published on August 14, with Sturgeon being paid a £300,000 advance for her work. This is being paid in instalments to her company, and is made public through her MSP register of interest. Sturgeon is set to go on a launch tour for the book across Scotland, including an appearance at Edinburgh's Usher Hall and the Edinburgh International Book Festival. Ticket prices range from £33 to £73. Sturgeon also posted a video of herself signing a huge pile of pages that will be attached to the book for those who have pre-ordered. There have been some hints about what the book will contain. 'Full of the verve and wit that made Sturgeon one of the most high-profile politicians in the UK, this is a unique blend of personal insight and captivating vignettes,' a blurb for the book reads. 'Infused throughout with a love of Scotland and its people, it honestly discusses Sturgeon's mistakes, her battles, and her triumphs. Frankly is the compelling story of no ordinary politician.'
Glasgow Times
41 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
SNP came ‘frustratingly close' to victory in Hamilton, says Swinney
Scottish Labour's Davy Russell won a surprise victory on Thursday, with the SNP coming second and Reform in third. The by-election had been sparked by the death of Scottish Government minister and SNP MSP, Christina McKelvie, who had held the seat since 2011, with the party hoping to keep it in the fold. Despite the First Minister's claim that the contest was a straight fight between the SNP and Nigel Farage's surging Reform UK, the Labour candidate won with 8,559 votes to the 7,957 of the SNP's Katy Loudon. Speaking to the PA news agency in Glasgow, the First Minister said the party had made 'modest progress' since its collapse at last year's general election – when it dropped from 48 MPs to just nine – but had further to go. 'We had a very strong campaign in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse,' he said. 'We had hundreds of members of the party that came to make their contribution to the by-election campaign – we've got to build on that. 'We've got to learn the lessons of the by-election. Labour's Davy Russell, right, is congratulated by Anas Sarwar and Dame Jackie Baillie (Jane Barlow/PA) 'We came very close, it was frustratingly close.' Coming second in the vote, the First Minister said, is an 'indication that we are still able to perform strongly electorally'. The First Minister added that his party lost the overlapping seat at Westminster – Hamilton and Clyde Valley – by 9,000 votes last year and by just 600 on Thursday. 'So, we are quite clearly in a position where we can achieve electoral success, but we have got to build on that and make sure we're stronger for 2026,' he said. In the final weeks of the campaign, the First Minister predicted the contest would be between his party and Reform UK but, asked if such an assertion – which turned out to be wrong – cast doubt on the data used by the SNP, he appeared to suggest it was based on his own perception. 'I'm just making two points about the by-election, two observations,' he said. 'One was that Labour support was collapsing, and from last year to Thursday, Labour support collapsed by 20%, came down from 50% to 30%. 'And I observed, secondly, that Reform support was surging and it was, so my analysis of the by-election was absolutely correct. 'I simply said to people if you want to stop Reform, vote for the SNP.' Despite the by-election loss, the party continues to lead in the polls ahead of next year, with Mr Swinney saying the Government must 'deliver on the priorities of the people of Scotland'.
