Latest news with #LynneSomerville
CBC
03-07-2025
- Business
- CBC
West End residents rally in last-ditch effort to stop RBC from shuttering local bank branch
Residents of Winnipeg's West End are rallying in a last-ditch effort to stop the looming closure of one of the last neighbourhood banks as RBC prepares to close two branches in the city this month. Community members held a protest at the corner of Sargent Avenue and Sherbrook Street on Thursday, repeating calls on RBC to halt plans to shutter its branch at that intersection July 10, a sign on the branch door says. The bank also plans to close its branch at 540 Main St. near City Hall on July 21. "We are really struggling in this community to keep businesses going and to keep our bank," said Lynne Somerville, who has lived in the West End for about 45 years and relies on the Sargent branch. "A lot of people in this area are elderly.… They don't have a car, a lot of people have walkers and wheelchairs and canes, so you need to be able to walk. A lot of people are on a fixed income." The next closest RBC branch is a 20-minute walk away, south of Portage Avenue in the Manitoba Hydro downtown headquarters. Another, on Ellice Avenue west of Empress Street, is a 40-minute walk or 10-minute bus ride. A TD branch on Notre Dame Avenue is the only other full-service bank in the West End. The Sargent location has been Kurtis McKenzie's home branch for years. He works at a pawn shop on Sargent that also uses the branch for business. He is upset the nearest alternative branch will have him driving downtown and paying for parking. "Also it's important for the pawn shop, because we get change from the bank … for our customers," he said. "There's a lot of reasons the bank should stay here, and I can't really understand the reasons why they wouldn't." An RBC spokesperson sent CBC News a statement Thursday that included some of the exact same phrasing provided to media during June 20 coverage of the Sargent closure. "Our branch network continually evolves and changes as we seek to serve our clients where and how they wish to conduct their banking," the statement says. "In some circumstances, this may involve combining branches, relocating certain branches, or opening new ones." The statement suggests the decision to merge its Sargent and Main branches with its Ellice and Portage branches, respectively, came as "consumer banking habits have evolved" to include more of a mix of telephone and online banking on top of traditional branch services and mobile expert advisors. Ralph Bryant attended a meeting with the RBC branch manager two weeks ago about community concerns. Bryant is a newer resident of the West End and said the loss of the Sargent RBC branch is effectively a "tax on the poor," because it will mean people on tight budgets are spending more to bus to the Ellice or Portage locations. "When you think about what makes a community, it's first and foremost the people, but it's also the resources and access to the things that they need, so they don't feel like they have to leave the neighbourhood," he said. "That's a $7 bus ride there and back, which for people on fixed incomes, for people who are worried about their bank accounts and keeping the money that they have, spending $7 just to do their basic banking is a lot." Local municipal, provincial and federal representatives — Coun. Cindy Gilroy (Daniel McIntyre), MLA Uzoma Asagwara (Union Station) and MP Leah Gazan (Winnipeg Centre) — all penned letters between the end of May and mid-June in an attempt to stop the closure. Asagwara still hasn't heard back from RBC, they said at the protest Thursday. "Having access to a local bank is fundamentally important for neighbourhoods. It helps support the local businesses in the community that keep our community thriving, and it supports all the folks in our neighbourhood who, really, banking in person is the way they meet their financial needs," they said. "The loss of this bank is going to have a huge impact on the community as a whole, and so I am hoping RBC listens to the voices of Union Station and reverses their decision." Gazan said she hasn't heard back from federal Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne since sending him her letter, dated May 26, asking him to intervene. She said she is even more disappointed with RBC since she learned it will also close its Main branch location. "This is a crisis, especially for people that don't have vehicles, seniors, many newcomer families, in fact, that rely on these banks … to even set up bank accounts in our community," she said. "It's highly disappointing."
Daily Record
15-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Green light for Flamingo Land resort in Loch Lomond 'would make locals leave in droves'
Community activists told the Sunday Mail of their relief after SNP ministers dramatically recalled the controversial £43.5million plans. Locals would leave in droves if 'nightmare' Flamingo Land holiday resort in Loch Lomond ever got the green light, campaigners have warned. Community activists told the Sunday Mail of their relief after SNP ministers dramatically recalled the controversial £43.5million plans for a waterpark, monorail, hotels, 104 chalets and more in Balloch on Tuesday. The Scottish Government had faced widespread condemnation over an initial decision by its Reporter – a civil servant who reviews planning appeals – to back the mega resort. That would have reversed a unanimous rejection of the bid by the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority in September. The Nationalist government's subsequent U-turn came on the eve of a potentially embarrassing Holyrood vote on the issue tabled by Labour's Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie – which ministers would have almost certainly lost. Balloch and Haldane community councillor Lynne Somerville said of the decision: 'I think there was a collective sigh of relief. 'There's a real fear here. People are talking about selling their homes and moving [if the development goes ahead. 'That's the people who are in a position to be able to do that. There's lots of us that aren't in that position. 'It's just going to make this place hell on Earth for the locals, so there's a real dread hanging over the community.' When she heard SNP minister Ivan McKee was 'calling in' the appeal for further consideration, Lynne says she was in a spin class. She said: 'My phone started pinging then I was punching in the air, screaming in delight and then I burst out crying.' The Lomond Banks development from Yorkshire-based theme park operator Flamingo Land would see a water park, a monorail, micro-brewery, two hotels, restaurants, shops and more than 100 woodland lodges built across the sprawling site. But critics say it would scar the iconic landscape of Loch Lomond, while adding to problems on the already congested A82, an accident hotspot. Independent councillor Jim Bollan, who opposes the Flamingo Land bid, said he was still wary SNP chiefs could green-light the resort despite more than 155,000 people signing a Scottish Greens petition against the plans. The Leven councillor said: 'The fortunate thing is we've got the Scottish Parliament elections coming up in May next year. I'm sure that'll be weighing heavy on the government. 'This has been going on for 10 years now and it has been a rollercoaster, back and forward. I think we're at the last hurdle and I genuinely hope they'll make the right decision. 'If the SNP government doesn't listen to 155,000 people who objected to this, they will suffer dearly at the ballot box.' He also criticised the Scottish Government Reporter's 'absolutely incredible' initial judgment to back Flamingo Land's appeal, claiming the civil servant had ignored key arguments against on conservation grounds and on flood risk, which was flagged by watchdog SEPA. Jim added: 'It's so undemocratic the way the system is laid out to allow one individual to overturn a unanimous decision by the planning authority.' Both campaigners – who sit on the board of the new Loch Lomond South Community Trust which wants to buy the land back for the community – separately raised the issues on the A82. Lynne said: 'That road is often like being in a car park. When you see the A82 blocked up and you see ambulances trying to get through, you get concerned and hope whoever is in that ambulance doesn't need serious emergency treatment that can't be dealt with in the ambulance.' 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. Jim said: 'It would take millions to make sure the A82 was in such a condition it could take the extra 250 vehicles every hour expected at peak times. 'And sadly, there isn't a week that goes by without a fatality on that road.' The Scottish Government said because the planning appeal is live, it couldn't comment on specifics of the case. SNP Public Finance Minister Ivan McKee said: 'I have 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.' Flamingo Land's developers Lomond Banks were approached for comment.
Telegraph
04-06-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
How a theme park became the most unpopular project in Scottish history
From the station at Balloch where the train from Glasgow terminates, it's a short stroll through delightful woodland to the famous 'bonnie banks' of Loch Lomond, Scotland. Yet during the walk, Lynne Somerville becomes more and more agitated. 'This,' she points out as a family walks past with a toddler in a pushchair, 'is where the monorail would run.' 'Here,' she says as two dog walkers amble by, 'are the trees that would be cut down to make room for the lodges.' Where the woods end abruptly, a beach overlooks one of Scotland's finest and most recognisable panoramas: the vast expanse of the loch, stretching northwards to the towering peak of Ben Lomond. Fringed with hills as far as the eye can see, the water is dotted with kayakers, paddle-boarders, yachts berthed at a distant marina and cruise boats carrying tourists. 'And this,' Somerville explains, 'is where they want to build the hotel and water park. 'This place, this view... It's a national treasure. What they're planning here is just an act of vandalism.' Her anger is directed at a divisive proposal by theme park operator Flamingo Land to build a holiday resort on the southern shores of Loch Lomond. Known as Lomond Banks, the project has been described as 'the most unpopular planning application in Scottish history', after a petition against it gathered more than 155,000 signatures. While it is only the latest attempt by business to capitalise on Loch Lomond's enduring appeal – the area has drawn mass tourism for more than 200 years – it is certainly the most controversial. Planning permission was denied last year after the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park authority ruled the resort was incompatible with environmental and conservation policies. But last month, a planning official appointed by the Scottish Government overruled that decision and granted the resort provisional approval. Objectors – including Somerville, who lives nearby and sits on the local community council – are outraged, and are stepping up their campaign to block the development through political pressure and even the threat of legal action. Inevitably, though, Lomond Banks also has supporters – who believe the £40 million project will deliver a much-needed boost to tourism, create jobs and attract investment. With a final decision expected later this year, both sides have shared with The Telegraph their strong views on the subject – sparking a debate not only about Loch Lomond but also about the role of national parks and, more broadly, about how to manage development in Britain's scenic areas in a way that balances the often-competing aims of conservation and economic growth, the needs of local residents and the demands of visitors. Billed as a 'world-class family tourism destination', Lomond Banks is being proposed by Flamingo Land, which also runs a theme park and zoo in North Yorkshire named after the brightly coloured birds that were introduced to the site when it opened in the 1950s. After initial plans in 2018 were met with strong opposition, the company submitted new proposals in 2020 for a 'resort village' featuring a 60-room hotel, budget hostel with 32 beds and 100 self-catering holiday lodges. The proposed resort would include a swimming pool, water park and spa, along with restaurants, a café, craft brewery and beer hall, plus picnic and barbecue areas – all connected by a monorail. It is set to be built in the village of Balloch, long regarded as the gateway to Loch Lomond. Tourists first began flocking to the area in the 18th century, drawn by the romantic allure of Highland scenery. By the 19th and 20th centuries, it had become a popular escape for Glaswegians seeking respite from the city's industrial smog – just 25 miles away. Fittingly, the proposed development would sit beside a striking symbol of tourism's evolution: the Maid of the Loch paddle steamer. In its 1950s heyday, the vessel carried up to 1,000 visitors at a time across the loch. Now retired and resting at the water's edge, it awaits long-promised restoration. At present, the main draw in Balloch is the Loch Lomond Shores visitor centre, opened in 2002. It features a viewing platform, aquarium, shopping mall with cafés, outdoor clothing stores, gift shops and a small branch of Frasers – all set beside a sprawling car park. The new resort would straddle this existing hub, with one half built in the wooded West Riverside area between the train station and the loch, and the other in the grounds of the ruined Woodbank House. The mansion would be restored to provide self-catering accommodation, surrounded by a cluster of holiday lodges. Flamingo Land insists the resort would 'reflect its beautiful natural surroundings' and 'complement the scenic landscape'. But the Balloch and Haldane community council argues the development would undermine the very qualities that draw visitors to the area. Somerville explains: 'The company is trying to profit from selling Bonnie Scotland to the tourists. People have always come here for the scenery, to get away from the city and to enjoy nature and fresh air. But these plans would mean losing the essence of the place, destroying its character. 'Loch Lomond has a national identity – but that would be lost for ever, for the sake of a development that won't create value for local people and would buckle the area's infrastructure.' The community council has warned the resort would make life a 'living hell' for locals, citing a dramatic rise in traffic and fears it would siphon trade away from existing hotels and restaurants. Somerville adds: 'The resort is just too big. If it went ahead, it would completely swamp the village.' Not all residents are firmly opposed. Some, like Debbie Savage – who runs a fitness business and walks her dog, Ruby, in the woods – remain undecided. She says: 'There's a danger the area could be ruined if the development is too commercial or done in a way that isn't sensitive. I understand the need for investment, but it has to be done in a way that is mindful of local residents.' Some, however, are firmly in favour – including Neil Mayles, who runs a business selling boats and marine equipment. He says: 'The national park authority hasn't always been the friend of business and enterprise, so something is desperately needed in the area to bring employment and investment. The planned resort would bring nothing but benefits.' The developers are keen to emphasise that Lomond Banks would create hundreds of local jobs during construction, followed by 200 full-time, part-time and seasonal roles once the resort opens. In overturning the national park authority's decision to reject the plans, the Scottish Government's planning reporter also concluded that the project could deliver 'locally significant' benefits in terms of employment and economic growth. The company argues that those opposed to the development represent only a 'vocal minority'. Jim Paterson, the project's development director, says: 'Our vision to bring about plans that create economic growth, investment, jobs and an infrastructure that will benefit the local community and beyond, is unwavering. 'The reality is that Lomond Banks has undergone extensive scrutiny. Following an independent and detailed review, the Government's planning reporter has issued a notice of intention to recommend our proposals for approval, recognising that they align with planning policy and will deliver significant public benefits. These include the restoration of the historic Woodbank House ruin, enhancements to biodiversity, and much-needed economic regeneration.' Paterson insists the resort would encroach on just 280 metres of Loch Lomond's 153km shoreline, and says it would be 'sympathetically designed to reflect the scale, character and natural beauty of the area'. Even so, fallout from the reporter's provisional approval continues. The National Park authority has described the decision as 'deeply disappointing' and says it stands by its original reasons for rejecting the plan. The Scottish Government, meanwhile, has declined to comment, stating only that the decision was made on its behalf by an independent planning expert. Opponents have been far more outspoken. The Scottish Green Party has urged the SNP Government to 'put the natural environment ahead of corporate profit' and reconsider the ruling, while the local community council remains resolute in its campaign to block Lomond Banks. Somerville adds: 'What's happened is grossly undemocratic. What's the point of having a national park authority with planning powers if the Government simply overrules it? As far as we're concerned, the future of one of Scotland's most beautiful places is at stake. This resort mustn't be allowed to go ahead.'
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
How a theme park became the most unpopular project in Scottish history
From the station at Balloch where the train from Glasgow terminates, it's a short stroll through delightful woodland to the famous 'bonnie banks' of Loch Lomond, Scotland. Yet during the walk, Lynne Somerville becomes more and more agitated. 'This,' she points out as a family walks past with a toddler in a pushchair, 'is where the monorail would run.' 'Here,' she says as two dog walkers amble by, 'are the trees that would be cut down to make room for the lodges.' Where the woods end abruptly, a beach overlooks one of Scotland's finest and most recognisable panoramas: the vast expanse of the loch, stretching northwards to the towering peak of Ben Lomond. Fringed with hills as far as the eye can see, the water is dotted with kayakers, paddle-boarders, yachts berthed at a distant marina and cruise boats carrying tourists. 'And this,' Somerville explains, 'is where they want to build the hotel and water park. 'This place, this view... It's a national treasure. What they're planning here is just an act of vandalism.' Her anger is directed at a divisive proposal by theme park operator Flamingo Land to build a holiday resort on the southern shores of Loch Lomond. Known as Lomond Banks, the project has been described as 'the most unpopular planning application in Scottish history', after a petition against it gathered more than 155,000 signatures. While it is only the latest attempt by business to capitalise on Loch Lomond's enduring appeal – the area has drawn mass tourism for more than 200 years – it is certainly the most controversial. Planning permission was denied last year after the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park authority ruled the resort was incompatible with environmental and conservation policies. But last month, a planning official appointed by the Scottish Government overruled that decision and granted the resort provisional approval. Objectors – including Somerville, who lives nearby and sits on the local community council – are outraged, and are stepping up their campaign to block the development through political pressure and even the threat of legal action. Inevitably, though, Lomond Banks also has supporters – who believe the £40 million project will deliver a much-needed boost to tourism, create jobs and attract investment. With a final decision expected later this year, both sides have shared with The Telegraph their strong views on the subject – sparking a debate not only about Loch Lomond but also about the role of national parks and, more broadly, about how to manage development in Britain's scenic areas in a way that balances the often-competing aims of conservation and economic growth, the needs of local residents and the demands of visitors. Billed as a 'world-class family tourism destination', Lomond Banks is being proposed by Flamingo Land, which also runs a theme park and zoo in North Yorkshire named after the brightly coloured birds that were introduced to the site when it opened in the 1950s. After initial plans in 2018 were met with strong opposition, the company submitted new proposals in 2020 for a 'resort village' featuring a 60-room hotel, budget hostel with 32 beds and 100 self-catering holiday lodges. The proposed resort would include a swimming pool, water park and spa, along with restaurants, a café, craft brewery and beer hall, plus picnic and barbecue areas – all connected by a monorail. It is set to be built in the village of Balloch, long regarded as the gateway to Loch Lomond. Tourists first began flocking to the area in the 18th century, drawn by the romantic allure of Highland scenery. By the 19th and 20th centuries, it had become a popular escape for Glaswegians seeking respite from the city's industrial smog – just 25 miles away. Fittingly, the proposed development would sit beside a striking symbol of tourism's evolution: the Maid of the Loch paddle steamer. In its 1950s heyday, the vessel carried up to 1,000 visitors at a time across the loch. Now retired and resting at the water's edge, it awaits long-promised restoration. At present, the main draw in Balloch is the Loch Lomond Shores visitor centre, opened in 2002. It features a viewing platform, aquarium, shopping mall with cafés, outdoor clothing stores, gift shops and a small branch of Frasers – all set beside a sprawling car park. The new resort would straddle this existing hub, with one half built in the wooded West Riverside area between the train station and the loch, and the other in the grounds of the ruined Woodbank House. The mansion would be restored to provide self-catering accommodation, surrounded by a cluster of holiday lodges. Flamingo Land insists the resort would 'reflect its beautiful natural surroundings' and 'complement the scenic landscape'. But the Balloch and Haldane community council argues the development would undermine the very qualities that draw visitors to the area. Somerville explains: 'The company is trying to profit from selling Bonnie Scotland to the tourists. People have always come here for the scenery, to get away from the city and to enjoy nature and fresh air. But these plans would mean losing the essence of the place, destroying its character. 'Loch Lomond has a national identity – but that would be lost for ever, for the sake of a development that won't create value for local people and would buckle the area's infrastructure.' The community council has warned the resort would make life a 'living hell' for locals, citing a dramatic rise in traffic and fears it would siphon trade away from existing hotels and restaurants. Somerville adds: 'The resort is just too big. If it went ahead, it would completely swamp the village.' Not all residents are firmly opposed. Some, like Debbie Savage – who runs a fitness business and walks her dog, Ruby, in the woods – remain undecided. She says: 'There's a danger the area could be ruined if the development is too commercial or done in a way that isn't sensitive. I understand the need for investment, but it has to be done in a way that is mindful of local residents.' Some, however, are firmly in favour – including Neil Mayles, who runs a business selling boats and marine equipment. He says: 'The national park authority hasn't always been the friend of business and enterprise, so something is desperately needed in the area to bring employment and investment. The planned resort would bring nothing but benefits.' The developers are keen to emphasise that Lomond Banks would create hundreds of local jobs during construction, followed by 200 full-time, part-time and seasonal roles once the resort opens. In overturning the national park authority's decision to reject the plans, the Scottish Government's planning reporter also concluded that the project could deliver 'locally significant' benefits in terms of employment and economic growth. The company argues that those opposed to the development represent only a 'vocal minority'. Jim Paterson, the project's development director, says: 'Our vision to bring about plans that create economic growth, investment, jobs and an infrastructure that will benefit the local community and beyond, is unwavering. 'The reality is that Lomond Banks has undergone extensive scrutiny. Following an independent and detailed review, the Government's planning reporter has issued a notice of intention to recommend our proposals for approval, recognising that they align with planning policy and will deliver significant public benefits. These include the restoration of the historic Woodbank House ruin, enhancements to biodiversity, and much-needed economic regeneration.' Paterson insists the resort would encroach on just 280 metres of Loch Lomond's 153km shoreline, and says it would be 'sympathetically designed to reflect the scale, character and natural beauty of the area'. Even so, fallout from the reporter's provisional approval continues. The National Park authority has described the decision as 'deeply disappointing' and says it stands by its original reasons for rejecting the plan. The Scottish Government, meanwhile, has declined to comment, stating only that the decision was made on its behalf by an independent planning expert. Opponents have been far more outspoken. The Scottish Green Party has urged the SNP Government to 'put the natural environment ahead of corporate profit' and reconsider the ruling, while the local community council remains resolute in its campaign to block Lomond Banks. Somerville adds: 'What's happened is grossly undemocratic. What's the point of having a national park authority with planning powers if the Government simply overrules it? As far as we're concerned, the future of one of Scotland's most beautiful places is at stake. This resort mustn't be allowed to go ahead.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
