A CAMPAIGNING MSP has called on West Dunbartonshire Councillors to kick out plans for a controversial resort in Loch Lomond when the bid arrives on their desks.

Ross Greer MSP has been a vocal objector to the proposals for the Flamingo Land development on the banks of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.

The resort bid has been hampered by problems and objections for years and in 2019, developers withdrew their plans after the council lodged a detailed objection.

However, in 2022, developer Lomond Banks returned with amended plans for over 100 self-catering lodges, two hotels, a waterpark, a monorail, 372 car parking spaces and more.

While the final decision will be made by Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, West Dunbartonshire Council is a key consultee as the entire site is within the council’s boundaries and Mr Greer has penned a letter to council leader Martin Rooney and leader of the opposition Karen Conaghan asking for the local authority to once again say no to the plans.

Mr Greer said: “Flamingo Land are offering nothing but disaster for the climate, more congestion for local roads and an irreversible scar on our world-famous local landscape.

“73,000 people have already objected to these ridiculous plans, and multiple surveys have shown a clear majority of local people are opposed.

"West Dunbartonshire Council’s objection was a huge boost to our first campaign back in 2019, so we need them to show up for local residents once again and issue a second strong objection to Flamingo Land."

The plans are currently in limbo after Scotland’s Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) demanded a large number of lodges be removed from a section of the site deemed to be at serious risk of flooding.

In the letter, Mr. Greer tells councillors a Flamingo Land in the area will not improve the local economy as promised.

It reads: "While Flamingo Land have had the option for many years of demonstrating a clear case that their plans would benefit the local economy, they have consistently failed to do so.

"For all the repeated soundbites given to the media about creating jobs, there has been precious little hard evidence provided."

However, Jim Paterson, development director for Lomond Banks hit back, saying: “Our plans have evolved considerably since our original application.

"We have spent much of the last two years consulting with and listening carefully to the local community in order to shape the plans that have been put forward.

“Our commitment to Balloch and West Riverside remains strong and our proposed development is sustainable, environmentally sound and commercially viable.

"We plan to invest £40m and bring 200 jobs to an area where this will have a significant positive impact.

"Economic investment and meaningful growth in the tourism market is much-needed, both locally and across Scotland as a whole.

“We want to complement what makes Loch Lomond so attractive to visitors, and our aim would be to invest locally, hire locally, and work with local businesses to maximise the benefits of the development for all. The creation of our ‘Lomond Promise’ reflects this, confirming that these positive benefits would be enjoyed primarily by the local communities surrounding Balloch.

“We remain confident in our proposals and the many benefits they will bring and we look forward to working with West Dunbartonshire Council and the National Park as plans progress.”