The threat of losing green space or a plan for an inappropriate housing development can mobilise a community like little else.

Our planning system pits communities against powerful developers seeking to make a profit – but the Scottish Parliament recently had the chance to level the playing field.

The question of who gets the right to appeal decisions is at the centre of this issue. Right now, if a planning application is turned down, the developer can appeal to the Scottish Government, even if elected councillors rejected it unanimously. In contrast, if an application is approved the community have no power to appeal it: the deck is stacked in favour of developers.

This means that if the planning application at Balloch by Flamingo Land – opposed by 57,000 people and by West Dunbartonshire Council – is rejected by the National Park board, the developer can appeal the decision at Holyrood. If it’s accepted, that’s the end of the story (unless the Government decide to call the decision in due to a conflict of interest).

Read more: Pain turns to pleasure for activists in fight against Flamingo Land

Groups from all over Scotland came together to put an “equal right of appeal” into the Planning Bill that went before Holyrood last month. But, despite hard work by campaigners and by my Green colleague Andy Wightman, SNP and Conservative MSPs backed the developer lobby and rejected the proposal.

And it’s not just on appeal rights that the bill was a disappointment. The SNP joined the Tories in backing the interests of corporations, property speculators and landowners. For example, after a massive lobbying operation by Airbnb and other letting agencies, they opposed regulations to control the number of short-term lets, which are forcing local residents out of communities such as Edinburgh and other tourist destinations.

While the Greens and others stood up for communities, the SNP and Tories stitched up this bill in favour of developers – and our communities will be the ones to suffer for it.