>The director behind a controversial proposal to site a holiday park on the shores of Loch Lomond has accused critics of “hysteria and mistruth”. Jim Paterson, Lomond Banks’ development director, said opponents of the plan had run a campaign with “baseless and offensive” claims about the Flamingo Land company.
>The Scottish government last week stalled plans for the holiday park at Loch Lomond. But Mr Paterson said the move raised serious questions about the integrity of Scottish planning and risked investment in the country.
>The £40m resort would feature a waterpark, monorail, hotel and restaurants, but it has attracted criticism from locals and politicians.
>The Green MSP Ross Greer, a long-time critic of the development, said the comments were “desperate stuff” and the company’s own documents indicated the resort would cause damage.
…
>Mr Paterson said the government decision “undermines the objective and independent judgment of the DPEA (Planning and Environmental Appeals Division) reporter”. He also confirmed the company – which has operated a theme park in North Yorkshire since 1959 – would take legal advice.
…
>Opponents of the plan, including Scottish Greens MSP Ross Greer, have argued the resort would cause considerable damage to the Loch Lomond area, affecting woodland and resulting in a huge amount of extra traffic in the region.
>But Mr Paterson said Greer’s claims were an attempt to “stoke public fear and misinformation”. He added: “The opposition has, unfortunately, relied on a sensationalist and misleading campaign, filled with hysteria, mistruths and inaccuracies, some of which disconcertingly continued to be relayed in last week’s parliament debate.”
> offensive
Ur offensive
Honestly I can’t say I’m particularly worried about the natural beauty of a few empty plots around Loch lomond shores, but I do wish I could find a straight answer of whether the locals are for it or not, because both sides seem to be claiming popular local support.
Have they ever tried to use the local roads or even public transport when the sun was out, they know fine well that Balloch can’t handle the traffic. Not without some major infrastructure upgrades at the very least.
Locals have been campaigning against this for nearly 10 years (I was one of them) it’s not like they just up and decided suddenly this time around they don’t like it.
This seemingly endless argument over this thing is exhausting.
I want the next thing I hear about it, to be that a flock of 80ft tall mechaflamingoes with laser eyebeams are rampaging through the Trossachs, and the only hope for civilisation is the secret weapon that was being built on Wallaby Island in the middle of Loch Lomond.
The name is dumb
Honestly my objection to this entire proposal is not really on the basis of economics or environmentalism, as the proposed site is already in a largely built-up area. It’s that Flamingo Land is cheap, tacky shite that’s going to attract yet more clueless punters to the most congested rural area in Scotland to choke up the roads, make noise and leave the place a total mess. And in a decade or two it’s going to look like every other tired old holiday camp down in England.
If they want the Glasgow crowds, build it in North Ayrshire which is already a shit heap (I live here, can confirm) and actually needs the money.
Edit for expansion:
I’m from a remote rural community that is in desperate need of tourism, investment and jobs. I’m all in favour of that outlook. But Loch Lomond is pretty much the one place that doesn’t need more development. There are so many other places across the country that would benefit more from this and don’t already have infrastructure pushed to breaking point.
I joke about Ayrshire because I’m very fond of it and want to see more investment here. Our roads are empty and our people are in need of jobs. But that isn’t going to happen if developers keep choosing the same four or five spots.
Tourism in Scotland 101: the word is diversification. Our tourism is highly, highly seasonally-dependent. The country is heaving in the summer and dead in the winter, bursting at some spots and vacant at others. I’m linked with various Highland tourism orgs and bodies and every one of them is saying the same: diversification. Spread tourism out so you can bring in more money without putting extra strain on infrastructure or neglecting and ignoring parts of the population. Building a bloody WATER PARK in the most popular rural spot in the country is the exact opposite of what we should be doing.
Sensationalist Hysteria? In Scottish currant affairs? Surely not. Reminds me when people went bananas about the hate crime law before it faded away into obscurity
N’aww the people who want to disturb ancient woodland so they can put up a monorail and a waterpark aren’t getting their way. Shame. Maybe they’d be better not trying to build a for-profit holiday resort *in a national park*.
Here’s my gripes with it.
Loch Lomond is stunning, and I don’t want that ruined with the backdrop of a crap amusement park that will be lying dilapidated within 10-15 like Louden Castle. If it must be built, build it somewhere away from the natural beauty of the Loch.
I also don’t think we have the infrastructure to accommodate extra tourists on those surrounding roads. It’s hard enough to get through the traffic on a sunny day.
They’re not wrong.
People are still calling it a theme park and flamingo land when it was never ever going to be called that.
What about the natural beauty of the massive concrete carpark that’s already there.
Can’t wait for it to be built, get a move on lads
I agree with them. People are raging NIMBYS. It’s getting out of hand. We need to develop our beauty spots. Small towns are dying, people are leaving. Not enough spend on going to rural areas. This development would be a no brainer in most countries.
What a way to win hearts and minds.
And they’re absolutely right.
The amount of lies and misconceptions spread by current individuals is shocking. Lies just fall out of their mouths like they mean nothing.
Most social media posters against it dont even know or understand the plans or the area its going to be built on.
The whole thing is embarrassing really.
Absolutely love the regular anger against Nimbyism in this sub, unless someone plans on building something in Scotland then it’s fucking pitchforks
16 comments
>The director behind a controversial proposal to site a holiday park on the shores of Loch Lomond has accused critics of “hysteria and mistruth”. Jim Paterson, Lomond Banks’ development director, said opponents of the plan had run a campaign with “baseless and offensive” claims about the Flamingo Land company.
>The Scottish government last week stalled plans for the holiday park at Loch Lomond. But Mr Paterson said the move raised serious questions about the integrity of Scottish planning and risked investment in the country.
>The £40m resort would feature a waterpark, monorail, hotel and restaurants, but it has attracted criticism from locals and politicians.
>The Green MSP Ross Greer, a long-time critic of the development, said the comments were “desperate stuff” and the company’s own documents indicated the resort would cause damage.
…
>Mr Paterson said the government decision “undermines the objective and independent judgment of the DPEA (Planning and Environmental Appeals Division) reporter”. He also confirmed the company – which has operated a theme park in North Yorkshire since 1959 – would take legal advice.
…
>Opponents of the plan, including Scottish Greens MSP Ross Greer, have argued the resort would cause considerable damage to the Loch Lomond area, affecting woodland and resulting in a huge amount of extra traffic in the region.
>But Mr Paterson said Greer’s claims were an attempt to “stoke public fear and misinformation”. He added: “The opposition has, unfortunately, relied on a sensationalist and misleading campaign, filled with hysteria, mistruths and inaccuracies, some of which disconcertingly continued to be relayed in last week’s parliament debate.”
> offensive
Ur offensive
Honestly I can’t say I’m particularly worried about the natural beauty of a few empty plots around Loch lomond shores, but I do wish I could find a straight answer of whether the locals are for it or not, because both sides seem to be claiming popular local support.
Have they ever tried to use the local roads or even public transport when the sun was out, they know fine well that Balloch can’t handle the traffic. Not without some major infrastructure upgrades at the very least.
Locals have been campaigning against this for nearly 10 years (I was one of them) it’s not like they just up and decided suddenly this time around they don’t like it.
This seemingly endless argument over this thing is exhausting.
I want the next thing I hear about it, to be that a flock of 80ft tall mechaflamingoes with laser eyebeams are rampaging through the Trossachs, and the only hope for civilisation is the secret weapon that was being built on Wallaby Island in the middle of Loch Lomond.
The name is dumb
Honestly my objection to this entire proposal is not really on the basis of economics or environmentalism, as the proposed site is already in a largely built-up area. It’s that Flamingo Land is cheap, tacky shite that’s going to attract yet more clueless punters to the most congested rural area in Scotland to choke up the roads, make noise and leave the place a total mess. And in a decade or two it’s going to look like every other tired old holiday camp down in England.
If they want the Glasgow crowds, build it in North Ayrshire which is already a shit heap (I live here, can confirm) and actually needs the money.
Edit for expansion:
I’m from a remote rural community that is in desperate need of tourism, investment and jobs. I’m all in favour of that outlook. But Loch Lomond is pretty much the one place that doesn’t need more development. There are so many other places across the country that would benefit more from this and don’t already have infrastructure pushed to breaking point.
I joke about Ayrshire because I’m very fond of it and want to see more investment here. Our roads are empty and our people are in need of jobs. But that isn’t going to happen if developers keep choosing the same four or five spots.
Tourism in Scotland 101: the word is diversification. Our tourism is highly, highly seasonally-dependent. The country is heaving in the summer and dead in the winter, bursting at some spots and vacant at others. I’m linked with various Highland tourism orgs and bodies and every one of them is saying the same: diversification. Spread tourism out so you can bring in more money without putting extra strain on infrastructure or neglecting and ignoring parts of the population. Building a bloody WATER PARK in the most popular rural spot in the country is the exact opposite of what we should be doing.
Sensationalist Hysteria? In Scottish currant affairs? Surely not. Reminds me when people went bananas about the hate crime law before it faded away into obscurity
N’aww the people who want to disturb ancient woodland so they can put up a monorail and a waterpark aren’t getting their way. Shame. Maybe they’d be better not trying to build a for-profit holiday resort *in a national park*.
Here’s my gripes with it.
Loch Lomond is stunning, and I don’t want that ruined with the backdrop of a crap amusement park that will be lying dilapidated within 10-15 like Louden Castle. If it must be built, build it somewhere away from the natural beauty of the Loch.
I also don’t think we have the infrastructure to accommodate extra tourists on those surrounding roads. It’s hard enough to get through the traffic on a sunny day.
They’re not wrong.
People are still calling it a theme park and flamingo land when it was never ever going to be called that.
What about the natural beauty of the massive concrete carpark that’s already there.
Can’t wait for it to be built, get a move on lads
I agree with them. People are raging NIMBYS. It’s getting out of hand. We need to develop our beauty spots. Small towns are dying, people are leaving. Not enough spend on going to rural areas. This development would be a no brainer in most countries.
What a way to win hearts and minds.
And they’re absolutely right.
The amount of lies and misconceptions spread by current individuals is shocking. Lies just fall out of their mouths like they mean nothing.
Most social media posters against it dont even know or understand the plans or the area its going to be built on.
The whole thing is embarrassing really.
Absolutely love the regular anger against Nimbyism in this sub, unless someone plans on building something in Scotland then it’s fucking pitchforks
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