Latest news with #TrossachsNationalParkAuthority
STV News
27-05-2025
- Politics
- STV News
Emergency meeting to discuss controversial Flamingo Land resort decision
An emergency meeting has been set up to try and overturn the controversial decision to grant planning permission for a local Flamingo Land resort. The Balloch and Haldane community council has organised a public gathering this Friday, May 30 at Kessogs Church Hall to discuss the proposals for the banks of Loch Lomond. A panel, made up of MSP Ross Greer, MSP Jackie Baillie, MSP Pam Gosal, councillor Jim Bollan with special guest The Wee Glesga Poet, has been arranged to share their insights and thoughts on the development. It comes after the Scottish Government reporter upheld an appeal from the Yorkshire-based theme park operator but added 49 conditions to the application. The Balloch and Haldane community council has been urging the Scottish Government to reverse its decision to grant planning permission, while expressing its 'deep disappointment and outrage' at approving the proposals, which they claim contradict the 'expressed will' of the local community. As part of the conditions, the applicant will now have to reach an agreement with Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority, which rejected the proposals last year, before the application can progress. Under the £43.5m 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. Councillor Jim Bollan, who is expected to be part of Friday's panel, said: 'The campaign to save Loch Lomond is at a critical stage. 'I would ask the public to contact their MSPs and urge them to vote for Ross Greer's motion S6M-17650, which is being tabled in the Scottish Parliament to call in and refuse the Flamingo Land application.' A spokesperson for the Balloch and Haldane community council previously said: 'This is not just a bad planning decision — it is a fundamental failure of democracy and policy. 'This decision rides roughshod over the principles of community empowerment, environmental protection, and democratic accountability. 'Our community, through proper statutory channels, objected in strong and clear terms. The will of the people has been ignored.' A Scottish Government spokesperson also said at the time: 'An independent reporter has issued a decision intimating that he is minded to grant planning permission in principle for the proposal subject to 49 planning conditions subject to a legal agreement being reached between the national park authority and developer to secure the employment and environment issues that are set out in the Lomond Promise. 'As the appeal remains live, it would not be appropriate to comment further on the merits of the proposed development.' The meeting will start at 6.30pm this Friday. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Scotsman
20-05-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
SNP ministers refuse plea to block controversial Flamingo Land application for Loch Lomond
A Scottish Government minister has refused to intervene and refuse permission for the controversial development. Sign up to our Politics newsletter 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... SNP ministers have rejected calls to step in and block the controversial Flamingo Land proposals amid concerns 'overwhelming expert evidence' is being ignored. A Scottish Government planning reporter has upheld an appeal from Yorkshire-based theme park operator Flamingo Land for the plans, but placed 49 conditions on the application. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad An illustration showing what Flamingo Land at Loch Lomond would look like | contributed The applicant will have to reach a legal agreement with the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority, which rejected the proposals last year, 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, which has agreed to sell to Flamingo Land if planning permission for the development is granted. READ MORE: Campaigners fury Government overrules Loch Lomond national park to approve Flamingo Land development Under the £43.5 million proposals, Lomond Banks would involve two hotels, more than 100 lodges, a waterpark and monorail built on the site at Balloch. A campaign against the project spearheaded by Scottish Green MSP Ross Greer garnered more than 150,000 signatures. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Mr Greer asked SNP public finance minister Ivan McKee whether ministers would use powers under the Country Planning Act to step in and block the application from receiving permission. Speaking in Holyrood on Tuesday, Mr McKee pointed to the permission being 'subject to 49 different planning conditions and a legal agreement being reached and put in place'. Business minister Ivan McKee during a Ministerial update on the Dalzell Historical Industrial sale at the Scottish Parliament in December last year. But he claimed that because the application technically 'remains live', it would 'not be appropriate for me to comment' on the specifics of the case. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Mr McKee said: 'Given the very technical planning issues raised in this case and the high level of public interest, I consider it is appropriate that objective planning judgement is applied in this case. For that reason, I do not intend to recall this appeal.' In response, Mr Greer told MSPs he was 'incredibly disappointed' by the Scottish Government refusing to step in and block the plans. The West of Scotland MSP said legislation 'specifically gives ministers that power, not officials'. He said: 'In 2008, this Scottish Government intervened to overturn Aberdeenshire Council's rejection of Donald Trump's golf course at Menie. That was ministers, not officials, overturning local democracy to help an American millionaire trash a sensitive natural environment. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'In this case, the Government's own environment watchdog Sepa said the application clearly breaches flood protection rules and does not meet the exceptions set out in the national planning framework. Green MSP Ross Greer | PA 'That's not to mention the extra 250 cars an hour it would bring at peak times on already-congested roads like the A82. 'Does the minister accept that the law clearly gives him the power to intervene and will he do so and reject this mega-resort on the basis of the overwhelming expert evidence of the damage it would do to a world-famous location?' Scottish Labour deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie | PA Labour deputy leader and Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie called for Mr McKee to visit the site, listen to local concerns and 'review all of the decision-making and call the planning application in'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad She said: 'The minister will know the reporter's decision does fly in the face of expert evidence, the unanimous decision of the national park, the view of Sepa and indeed, the overwhelming majority of local people.
The Courier
07-05-2025
- Business
- The Courier
Stirling business owner pushes back against order to replace 'non-existent' tree
A Stirling businessman is taking on Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority over a demand to replant a tree that the landowner says never existed. Sebastian Pietrzak received a tree replacement notice stating that three trees were removed from land at Leny Feus in Callander without authorisation in August 2024. Mr Pietrzak, director of Stirling renovation company Easy Hire Solutions Ltd, argues that two of these trees, a yew (referred to as T1) and an 'unknown young species' (T3), 'were not present at the specified location' at the time. He has lodged an appeal with the Scottish Government's Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA), pushing back against the replacement order. In his appeal statement, Mr Pietrzak wrote: 'We have owned the land since April 2022, and during this time, no tree matching T3's description has ever existed in suggested location.' According to the appellant, the tree known as T2, a young Norway spruce, 'sustained damage due to an unavoidable safety issue' in April 2024. Mr Pietrzak says his intention has always been to replace this tree once 'four massive root systems' from other nearby felled trees are removed. Claims of poor communication from park authority The business owner claims several past attempts to communicate with Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority were not taken seriously. His statement continued: 'We made several efforts to engage with the Council and show them the work we had completed. 'On 15th August 2024, we were expecting a Ranger Employee to arrive and take photos; however, the Ranger stayed in the van and drove off, implying that our work was not considered important enough to be properly assessed.' The land in question is located just outside Callander's centre. Image: TreasureGalore/Shutterstock He also suggests meetings were dodged by a park authority senior planner. 'This entire situation could have been avoided had our meetings taken place as planned,' Mr Pietrzak wrote. 'We had photographic evidence to support our case but were not given the opportunity to present it or have our concerns properly addressed.' The DPEA appeal is now ready to be allocated to a Scottish Government reporter, with a target decision date of July 8. Elsewhere in Stirling, a legal direction to replant over 800 unlawfully felled trees at a former caravan park has gone ignored for more than three years, with no follow-up action taken. For more Stirling news and features visit our page or join us on Facebook
The Courier
05-05-2025
- General
- The Courier
Stirling Planning Ahead: Dunblane bakery one step closer and short-term lets proposed near castle
It's time for Planning Ahead, our regular round-up of all the latest Stirling planning applications you should know about. There are proposals dotted across Stirling, from the city's old town to Killin. And fans of food, history and skateboarding are all in for a treat. Read on to find out more. The National Wallace Monument is to undergo repairs to ensure the 'longevity and safety' of the 156-year-old landmark. Steel rods will be be inserted to secure stonework in some areas, and certain stones will be replaced where erosion has put the monument's iconic crown-like spire in jeopardy. Cracks will be mended and defective mortar beds repointed. Stirling Council gave the go-ahead for the work last week, with detailed conditions about preserving the character and appearance of the A-listed structure. Planning reference: 25/00059/LBC Three separate planning applications have been lodged with Stirling Council, seeking permission in principle for the future erection of single houses in the Lecropt area of the town, close to the railway station. Each of the three self-build plots would be subject to their own individual planning permission. The site, known as Station Field, is located west of the town centre, and north of the A9. According to the plans, three family homes could eventually be built – two at 340 sq m and one at 480 sq m. Planning references: 25/00230/PPP, 25/00231/PPP and 25/00234/PPP Killin Sports and Recreation Hub has submitted proposals to construct a pump track at the village's Breadalbane Recreation Park. Designed for mountain bikes, BMX, skateboards, roller blades, scooters and wheelchair users, the facility would be free for the community and suitable for all experience levels. It is expected to cost £150,000 in total, of which £92,000 has already been raised through donations. The plans will be considered by Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority. Planning reference: 2025/0112/DET Stirling Council has received a request to turn category B-listed 18th-century home Valley Lodge on Castle Wynd into six short-term let apartments. The four-bedroom property, located a stone's throw from Stirling Castle, went up for sale last May, priced at £200,000. New plans propose converting the four-storey house into six one-bedroom flats, with two apartments on each floor, aside from the attic. If approved, the apartments would all have a double bed, a kitchenette and an en suite bathroom. Planning reference: 25/00215/FUL Last but not least, Dunblane looks set to get a new bakery and cafe on its High Street, after initial approval was granted by Stirling Council. Once up and running, the new food and drink spot plans to sell fresh, European-style pastries and bread, as well as serving breakfast, brunch and afternoon tea. There will be space for 15 to 20 people to dine, with hopes of providing seating outside for the warmer months. Food will also be available to take away, but customers will be encouraged to sit in, make themselves at home and spend some time unwinding. Planning reference: 24/00781/FUL Wallace Monument stone repair Bridge of Allan self-build housing Killin pump track plans Valley Lodge holiday let proposal Dunblane bakery approved
