FLAMINGO LAND: PARK PRESS CONFERENCE ARRANGEMENTS HAVE PARANOIA WRITTEN ALL OVER THEM

By Bill Heaney

Loch Lomond and Trossachs Park Authority appear to have hired an expensive new spin doctor with a double-barrel name to “explain” their detailed plan which has been published today (Thursday 22^nd August) setting out key dates and processes for the decision on a major planning application in Balloch.

The name Flamingo Land is not even mentioned in the press release signed by Kate Bouchier-Hayes, Communications & Engagement Officer, Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park. Normally releases are issued by Elaine Brewer, the resident PR at the Park Authority.

It states that the decision on whether to approve or refuse the application for a proposed development at West Riverside and Woodbank House will be taken by Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority Board on Monday 16^th September.

And that ahead of that date, the National Park Authority has published a framework document confirming the following:

• The report recommending whether Board Members should approve or refuse the application (from the National Park Authority’s Director of Place) is expected to be published on Monday 2nd September on the National Park Authority website.    

• Whilst this report will contain detailed technical language and refer to planning legislation, every effort is being made to make the paper as easy to understand as possible. This report is a recommendation only. The final decision whether to approve or refuse the application will be made by the National Park Authority Board on Monday 16th September. 

• Anyone, or any organisation, that has submitted a formal representation on the application directly to the National Park Authority, will be notified by email or letter (in line with how their formal representation was submitted to the National Park Authority) and given details on how they can request to speak at the Hearing on 16th September. The normal restrictions on numbers of speakers will not be applied in this case given the significant public interest and the number of representations. Depending on the number of requests to speak, a limit may have to be applied. Where appropriate, speakers will be encouraged to appoint a spokesperson to represent their collective views, particularly where there are a large number of people raising the same issues. 

• The Hearing and Board Meeting on 16^th September are being held in public, they are not ‘public meetings’ – which means that members of the public are welcome to observe but are not able to participate in proceedings unless they have applied to speak in advance and been confirmed as a speaker via the official process.  

• Given the significant public interest in the application, the National Park Authority has opted to hold the Hearing and Board Meeting at Lomond Parish Church in Balloch to ensure that as many observers as possible are able to attend while the decision-making process remains in the local community. Lomond Parish Church can hold more than 200 people. The time of the Hearing and Board Meeting will be confirmed on Monday 2nd September 2024.  

• The Hearing and Board Meeting will be livestreamed for those unable to attend on the day. A link will be posted on the National Park Authority website and highlighted via the Park Authority’s social media channels. 

• A Site Visit will take place for Board Members on the morning of Monday 16th September 2024. The time and starting location of the Site Visit will be confirmed on Monday 2nd September 2024.  Members of the public and the media may observe the Site Visit but there is no opportunity to speak or to ask questions – a site visit is an important part of the decision-making process and it is vital that it is carried out in an orderly and respectful manner to allow Board Members to receive the relevant information from those conducting the Site Visit. 

Dr Heather Reid, Convener of the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority Board, said:  “There is significant public interest in this planning application and I want to reassure anyone with an interest – whether in favour of or in objection to the application – that due process is being followed to the letter.

Dr Heather Reid, Convener of the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority Board, and Sid Perrie, the Balloch representative on the Park Board.

“It is in everyone’s interest that the Site Visit, Public Hearing and Board Meeting on 16^th September are conducted in an orderly manner and that an informed decision can be made by Board Members. Disruption on the day could result in the Site Visit being abandoned or the Hearing being adjourned and those outcomes benefit nobody.

“So I would strongly urge those with conflicting views on the application to respect the planning process and allow events on Monday 16^th September to be carried out in an orderly manner. It is important that Board Members hear all viewpoints before reaching a decision

(There was considerable disruption at a previous meeting when Dr Reid threatened to have Balloch board member Sid Perrie thrown out of the room if he continued making the case as to why local people in their thousands were against planning permission being granted for the hugely controversial Flamingo Land development). 

Dr Reid added: “We are making the Hearing and Board Meeting as open and accessible as possible and have secured a large local venue for that reason. The meeting will also be streamed online for those unable to access the venue.

“In addition to the planning report, which will reference representations made both for and against the application, we will ensure Board Members hear from a balanced range of speakers at the Hearing to help inform their decision.

“In the meantime, we will provide regular updates to the public, to key stakeholders including Balloch and Haldane Community Council, and to the media on the process being followed.”

The press release states that members of the media are welcome to attend and observe the Site Visit, Public Hearing and Board Meeting on Monday 16^th September.  

Standing room only at a previous meeting about Flaming Land in Balloch

The arrangements are unprecedented in West Dunbartonshire, where the council don’t even provide a press bench for the media, and appear to be on a scale similar to the G7 summit talks attended by world leaders and held at the Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire. They appear to have paranoia written all over them.

And it adds that the  Site Visit is for the benefit of Board Members. As set out in the framework document no interaction with Board Members or officials will be permitted during this visit and any media or members of the public who choose to attend will be there purely as observers. 

To allow the Public Hearing and Board Meeting at Lomond Parish Church to progress unhindered, media will only be in attendance as observers – no photography or filming is permitted during this time. Media bids will be considered for Monday evening, after the decision has been taken, but this will depend on timescales. 

A seating area for media has been arranged. Spaces are limited. If you would like to attend the Public Hearing and Board Meeting as a member of media, please contact Media@lochlomond-trossachs.org”>PR&Media@lochlomond-trossachs.org

 A livestream of proceedings will be provided on the day – details will be published here

Background:

1. This planning application and all documents related to it can be viewed on the public planning portal under application ref. 2022/0157/PPP).
2. Updates on the process to determine this application are posted on the National Park Authority website
3. Due to its scale, this planning application is classed as a ‘major development’. Major developments follow a different planning process to smaller planning applications. You can find a step-by-step overview of this process in our  ‘major developments explained’ blog. 
4. This application is for Planning Permission in Principle. For applications of this type, if approved, a further detailed application would require to be submitted and approved before any development could start.
5. An earlier planning application for this site was withdrawn by the applicant following publication of a National Park Authority planning report recommending that the National Park Authority Board refuse the application.