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BBC News
a day ago
- General
- BBC News
Consultation begins on plans for South Downs National Park
People are being invited to have their say on priorities and targets for the South Downs National consultation, which got under way on Monday, is to help establish what the park does over the next five plans include increasing tree cover, cleaning up rivers, new pathways and building hundreds of affordable McGeever, chief executive of the South Downs National Park Authority, said the plan was "innovative and forward-thinking". He said: "We're not shying away from aiming high in our shared vision for this amazing place."Ultimately, we want to make the South Downs an even better place with bigger and better wildlife habitats, more accessibility, more affordable homes and cleaner waterways."The draft plan sets out seven collective priorities between 2026 and 2031 – nature recovery, climate action, clean water, young people, welcome and access, arts and heritage, and a thriving, greener national park has 113,000 residents, with millions of people living around it, according to the McGeever said it needed to play a "pivotal role in dealing with all the challenges and opportunities we now face". The final plan will be delivered in partnership with organisations including farmers, landowners and local consultation runs until 1 August.
Scotsman
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Scotsman
Why Loch Lomond must be saved from Flamingo Land development
Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... As early as 1944, a government committee proposed Loch Lomond and The Trossachs as a national park due to its unique geology, history and beauty "comparable to the Italian lakes". But it took decades of campaigning and leadership from figures like Scottish Labour's John McFall and Hannah Stirling, founder of the Friends of Loch Lomond, before finally, in 2002, it became Scotland's first national park. The campaigners for the national park believed there was no contradiction in protecting the environment and boosting the local economy. They also wanted nature to be accessible – the fact Loch Lomond was on the doorstep of a big city like Glasgow made it more attractive as a national park, not less. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad And – in a country that had only just abolished feudalism – they wanted it to be democratically run with a board including local representation. But the founders also made it clear that if there was a conflict, the principle of conserving the park's natural and cultural heritage came first. An illustration showing what Flamingo Land at Loch Lomond would look like | contributed Shocking decision That's why I supported the National Park Authority's unanimous decision to reject the bid of the Flamingo Land resort in Balloch on the shores of Loch Lomond. Indeed I spoke at the meeting in opposition, reflecting the overwhelming views of the local community. And that's why the Scottish Government's decision to overrule the National Park Authority and approve it is so shocking. It's critical we speed up planning processes so that Scotland can get the affordable homes, infrastructure and developments we need. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But they have to be the right developments in the right places – and this is where Flamingo Land falls short. The plan has been opposed by environmental organisations from the Woodland Trust to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, due to the harm to ancient woodland and the risk of flooding. But it was not just a lack of environmental protections that raised alarm bells. Back in 2022, when I canvassed constituents about their concerns, many feared the scale of the resort would lead to even more congestion on the A82. Only one Loch Lomond Anyone who has taken a day trip to Loch Lomond over the past few sunny weeks knows just how bad that traffic can get. And while Flamingo Land says it will inject cash into the local economy, my constituents feared that the jobs would simply be low-paid, seasonal, hospitality roles. The majority of those surveyed were against it and even those in favour raised many of the same concerns. More than 150,000 people have objected to the plans, with some turning out onto the streets to protest. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad This is why Scottish Government ministers must step in to overturn the decision of the reporter who approved Flamingo Land. There is room for development, but it should be one that reflects the heritage of its surroundings and enhances the area rather than damaging it. I don't begrudge Flamingo Land running a business or finding a holiday park formula that it can replicate time and again. But there is only one Loch Lomond, and it's up to the Scottish Government to protect it. Scotland's first national park was designated at Loch Lomond for a reason. Let's not spoil our natural environment and history with an ill-judged development. Ministers must intervene.
Scottish Sun
16-05-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Controversial £40m Flamingo Land resort at Scots beauty spot APPROVED despite thousands of complaints
FLAMIN-GO! Controversial £40m Flamingo Land resort at Scots beauty spot APPROVED despite thousands of complaints A CONTROVERSIAL £40m Flamingo Land resort at Loch Lomond is set to get the go-ahead - after the Scottish Government overturned a refusal decision. It comes after bosses at the National Park Authority unanimously refused the plans back in September. 1 A decision published on Friday showed a reporter in the Planning and Environmental Appeals Division has upheld an appeal from Flamingo Land for the plans,. But 49 conditions were slapped on the application. The applicant will have to reach an agreement with the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority before the application can progress. The land which is proposed to be built on is owned by the Scottish Government's commercial wing Scottish Enterprise. It has agreed to sell to Flamingo Land if planning permission for the development is granted, with the deal being extended last year to allow for an appeal to the refusal. Under the £43.5 million proposals, Lomond Banks would see two hotels, more than 100 lodges, a waterpark and monorail built on the site at Balloch, West Dunbartonshire. The development has been proposed for years, with Lomond Banks pulling out in 2019 before returning with a new application, which has proven controversial with the local community. A campaign spearheaded by Scottish Green MSP Ross Greer garnered more than 150,000 signatures, he claimed, while the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, the National Trust and the Woodland Trust also lodged objections. Campaigners have expressed worries about the environmental impact on the area, as well as extra traffic on the already beleaguered A82, and the quality of jobs. A study commissioned by Lomond Banks suggested as many as 200 positions could be created - 80 full-time and 120 part-time or seasonal - with the developer pledging to stick to Scottish Government-set fair work principles. More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Scottish Sun. is your go to destination for the best celebrity news, football news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheScottishSun.
Daily Record
16-05-2025
- Daily Record
Approval for derelict rural Stirling mansion to be transformed into new site
The developers are aiming to give Pirniehall House a new lease of life by transforming it into a seven-bedroom property. Developers have been granted permission to turn a derelict country mansion and former residential school near Croftamie into a seven-bedroom home and surrounding tourism development. Pirniehall House is currently on the 'Buildings At Risk' register. But plans were submitted to Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park planners in the hope of giving it a new lease of life. Now a Section 75 legal agreement has been reached between the developer and the National Park Authority to cover aspects of the approval including permitted development rights and landscaping. New site owner Warren Lewis was granted approval by the Park's planning committee to create a mixed-use residential and tourism development comprising change of use, alteration (part demolition) and conversion of a former residential school (Class 8) to residential dwelling (Class 9) with ancillary swimming pool, gymnasium, and outdoor games court. The proposals also include an ancillary detached garage with self-contained flat above, alteration (part demolition and extension) and conversion of outbuildings to form seven holiday apartments, formation of new road access and gateway structures, associated parking, drainage infrastructure and erection of eight holiday lodges. The 6.51 hectare Pirniehall site includes a main building, originally built as a dwelling for Sir Alexander Murray, and which was altered and extended during the 1970s and 80s for use as a residential education facility. The main building was severely damaged by fire in 2019 and is now fenced for safety reasons to prevent people getting into it. There are also said to be disused stables capable or conversion but glasshouses which are 'merely ruins', the applicant's agents had told planners. In documents submitted with the application, the agents added: 'The proposals at Pirniehall are a sensible way forward for the site, with Pirniehall itself being brought back into meaningful use, as a single dwelling, and a new tourism (visitor experience) development being provided within its grounds, which has been designed to respect its landscape and biodiversity. 'The new accommodation will bring economic benefits to the village, and wider National Park, and will provide accommodation on a long distance footpath and cycleway supporting their use. 'From the start, [Mr Lewis] had a desire to restore and develop the main building (Pirniehall) for his personal use as a domestic dwelling, and this developed into a wish to redevelop the remainder of the site as a visitor experience that could help fund his proposals for the main house, and tourism use of the other ancillary buildings upon the site that could be saved and restored. 'The main building seems to have remained derelict for more than a decade; it has suffered physical degradation and fire damage during that period. This sad neglect has led to significant structural damage, and an inability to use the building without significant monetary investment. 'The last known use of the site was as a music school, although it was originally built as a substantial estate, and has seen a variety of uses and visitors during its time. 'The building is not listed, but is locally significant, and is on the Buildings at Risk Register. 'Given the strong historical character of the original building, the decision was made early in the design process that as much of the high quality Scottish baronial architecture would be retained as possible, with significant changes only occurring to parts of the building that had deteriorated and require demolition. 'Most of the unsightly modern extensions to the original building have, unsurprisingly, deteriorated at a quicker rate than the main building. The dormitory wings to the west of the main building will be mainly demolished, with some parts rebuilt. 'He accepts that the current proposals are not exactly what may have been envisaged at the start, and nor perhaps what the local community were necessarily expecting. 'However, it complies with the spirit of the allocation, makes best use of the site, and provides a viable development that will allow him to live in the main building, and have a business that he can run on the remainder of the land, and will generate funds immediately to cross-fund the rest of the development.'
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'Outrage' over unauthorised works in South Downs
Caravans and motorhomes have appeared in a field in the South Downs National Park which was levelled and turned into an unauthorised work site. Workers cleared the site before adding gravel and what appears to be a septic tank on land near Blind Lane in Lurgashall, Petworth, over the weekend despite Chichester District Council officers serving a notice to stop. A council spokesperson said: "As the notice has been breached, and caravans have now entered the site, we are taking further legal steps including seeking an injunction through the courts." Opponents including South Downs MP Andrew Griffith criticised the works as an "illegal breach of all respected planning standards and behaviour". The council added: "We take these matters incredibly seriously. We have planning rules in place to protect areas of countryside in our district, including the South Downs National Park, and if harmful development is carried out then we will take appropriate enforcement action. "We want to assure the community that we are doing everything in our power to respond to this. We will also be working with those on the site, local parish councils, and the local community, to offer support." A digger and a septic tank at the site [Eddie Mitchell] Workers arrived at the site on Friday with machinery and cleared and levelled the green site in the middle of the South Downs National Park, which the council described as "unauthorised engineering operations". A council planning officer later posted a second notice on the gate of the site on Monday while three men continued working. Stricter planning regulations exist in national parks such as the South Downs, with applications submitted to the National Park Authority rather than the local council. A spokesperson for the South Downs National Park Authority said it was "appalled" by the works and was working in partnership with Chichester District Council on the issue. The council added: "We take breaches of planning and unauthorised development very seriously and will continue to work together to resolve the situation." A council officer delivering a stop notice to the site [Eddie Mitchell] Mr Griffith, MP for Arundel and the South Downs, said: "I completely share the outrage and concern of residents about this illegal breach of all respected planning standards and behaviour. "It makes a mockery of a system where we all jump through lengthy and costly hoops to install a dormer window when such brazen breaches happen unchecked." A spokesperson for Sussex Police said officers had also attended the site but that the issue was a civil matter and it was liaising with local authorities. Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. More on this story Related internet links
