NOTEBOOK: EVEN THE FLAMINGO LAND REFUSAL ANNOUNCEMENT SMACKS OF SPIN (updated)

NOTEBOOK by BILL HEANEY

It took a boring five-hour long meeting in a Balloch church today for the Loch Lomond and Trossachs planning authority to finally decide that the Flamingo Land project was a non starter, something that appeared obvious to most people from the outset of this saga eight years ago.

Spin doctors are written all over this statement and there is criticism of the cack handed way the Park board chose to run a “public meeting”.

Dr Heather Reid, Convener of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority Board, issued the following statement: “Today the National Park Authority Board unanimously refused a planning application for a major tourism development at West Riverside and Woodbank House in Balloch. 

“This decision was taken following a thorough, robust and transparent process. That process included a site visit, careful consideration of the planning assessment report, and of consultation responses from local and national public bodies, other statutory consultees, and representations from members of the public. 

“The Board heard from speakers both in support of and in objection to the proposal at a hearing heard in public in Balloch today. 

“The application considered by the Board today included proposals for a significant amount of development in an area of flood risk. It was concluded that no exceptions to national policy would apply which would allow the principle of new built development to be acceptable in these areas. As such, SEPA had objected to the application. “

Dr Reid  added: “National Planning Framework 4 gives increased weight to the global climate emergency and the nature crisis.  It ensures they are recognised as a priority in all plans and decisions. 

“The Board found that the proposal also failed to satisfy the NPF4 requirement to deliver significant biodiversity enhancement.  

“The development would have resulted in larger areas of woodland loss than set out by the applicant, including some areas of ancient woodland, and the proposed compensation falls significantly short of national policy requirements. This would not contribute positively to creating nature rich places or restoring local nature networks. 

“Finally, it was concluded that the scale of the proposal overall was in conflict with the site’s capacity for development. 

“The National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000 states that if it appears that there is a conflict between the first aim – conservation and enhancement of the natural and cultural heritage of the area – and the other National Park aims, greater weight must be given to the first aim. 

“The role and purpose of National Parks is changing. It is recognised that National Parks can provide leadership for nature recovery and significantly contribute to becoming a Net Zero Nation. 

“As such, our National Park Partnership Plan states that future development and infrastructure within the National Park should support tackling the climate emergency and maximise opportunities to deliver or enable nature restoration. 

“Ultimately the Board felt that this proposed development would not do that.  

“The application was refused because it does not comply with Scotland’s National Planning Framework 4, the Local Development Plan for the National Park or the National Park Partnership Plan.”

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What a load of Malarkey. This was a victory for the people of this community and one in the eye for the presumptuous and the privileged blow-ins.

The cost of what happened today is a microcosm of the £millions that have been squandered by what Sir Billy Connolly called “a pretendy wee parliament” and the not fit for purpose Loch Lomond Park Authority plus useless West Dunbartonshire Council.

The arrogance of Heather the Weather in threatening us with lawyers for telling the truth is unspeakable.

Heather Reid, left,  who refused to allow my question which was for her to explain the absence from the meeting of Sid Perrie, Balloch’s elected representative on the Park board.

The meeting today was a shambles as per usual. Five hours of waffle. I hope they are proud of themselves for excluding Sid Perrie, the bona fide representative for Balloch on this rotten park board.

And for banning me from asking why he wasn’t present. Was he excluded? I think we should be told, even now.  Democratic Dunbartonshire is an oxymoron.

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Just in passing. I wrote a piece in this Notebook about the fact that despite the fact West Dunbartonshire Council has agreed to get rid of them, the eyesore that is the wrecks in the River Leven are still there.

There is an expensive notice on Dumbarton Quay urging people to have a look at the landscape. Dumbarton Castle for example towering over the confluence of the two rivers, Leven and Clyde, where they meet at Sandpoint.

There’s only one problem and it’s not a small one. It’s what’s in this picture I took recently from the Quay right next to the expensive notice urging visitors and local people to admire the view.