Green welly brigade turn their backs on Flamingoland protesters
Flamingoland proposal for Balloch and a competitor at Drymen Show.
By Bill Heaney
In an astonishing turn of events, the Save Loch Lomond campaign group, which is implacably opposed to Flamingoland in Balloch, were banned from taking up their stall at the Drymen Show on Saturday.
Balloch and Haldane Community Council issued a statement on their notice board saying they were on the one hand delighted with the public sympathy for their campaign but on the other dismayed by the Drymen Show’s decision to ban them.
They are now hoping that the Loch Lomond and Trossachs Park Authority planning committee, chaired by retired TV weather forecaster Heather [the Weather] Reid and chief executive Gordon Watson, will respond favourably to the public clamour to throw out Flamingoland’s most recent application for planning permission for the Balloch development.
A statement from Balloch and Haldane Community Council expressing their view that planning permission should be refused was posted on their notice board over the weekend.
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Park chairperson Heather Reid, CEO Gordon Watson, Martin Docherty Hughes MP and Provost Douglas McAllister — Flamingoland certain to be big election issue.
Labour-controlled West Dunbartonshire Council have said they have no objection to the detested development, a decision they may come to regret given they have a local by-election to fight in June and the General Election to contest on July 4 when Provost Douglas McAllister will take on the sitting MP, Martin Docherty Hughes, of the SNP. The Provost, an unfamiliar figure in Dumbarton and Vale of Leven, will be hard pushed to win.
The and Haldane CC statement said: “Amazing day yesterday, spoke with lots of lovely people in and around Balloch and Drymen regarding the new planning application.
“Despite us booking a stand at the Drymen Show they cancelled us! Three of us paid entry, leafletted the event and posted a flyer on every car in the car park.
“Lots of venues [stallholders] supported us and happily took flyers for their customers to read (links in comments of businesses so you can pop in and say hello!) BHCC will ask for numbers of objections next week and will post another update.
“Keep up the great work everyone, together we are raising much needed awareness that people need to re-object [those who have already signed the petition are being asked to do so again] as their original objection is now void as it’s a new planning application.
“BHCC with Save Loch Lomond and other key supporters will call a public meeting in the next few weeks to discuss next steps.
“if you were out handing out leaflets, share how you got on to support our petition on Facebook.”
Well known local trade unionists including Margaret Wood, pictured right, Elizabeth Snowden and 71 others added their support to the Facebook post.There are deep fears amongst members of the public, community groups and small businesses that the establishment will win the day for Flamingoland at the Park planning meeting.
The Drymen Show comes under the auspices of the Strathendrick Agricultural Society and its patron is the Duke of Montrose, who is a member of the House of Lords.
Conic Crafts, the Clachan Inn, Drymen, Skoosh Deli, Mary Quinn Campbell, who asked: “What reason did Drymen show give you for cancelling?; Nikki Rankin, who wrote: “That’s shocking they cancelled you?”
Gillian Munro wrote: “I‘m really sorry and angry that your spot was cancelled and at such short notice, but glad you were able to circumvent things and spread the word.
“Unfortunately I was stuck in the rural tent all day, so missed your flyers and fantastic volunteers. Hopefully more will object through your dedicated work.”
Undeterred by the Drymen Show organisers’ decision to ban them from having a stall however, members of the group and volunteers managed to distribute around 6000 leaflets amongst the crowds for the campaign which is rapidly expanding exponentially.
The petition against the £45 million Flamingoland tourism development and has been signed by more than 80,000 objectors.
Prominent campaigner Marion Saoirse Plunkett was absolutely delighted and said: “Thank you to everyone who gave their time today to gather signatures and deliver leaflets. In less than two hours we have managed to get around 6000 leaflets out with volunteers!
“We now need more volunteers for parts of Haldane and most of Tullichewan. Levenvale, Dalvait, Jamestown, East Balloch, Central Balloch & West Balloch are either completed or allocated and underway.”
Shame on the organisers of the Drymen Show for refusing the Communuty Council to have a stall at the show. Curtailing freedom of speech and expression is a disgarce.