There is a clause in the exclusivity agreement that allows Flamingo Land a further year to obtain planning permission, Parliament told

By Bill Heaney

The issue of Flamingo Land or Lomond Banks as they are now calling their unwanted development rumbled on right up the stairs into the debating chamber of the Scottish Parliament.

The public may be getting fed up with it, but there are people out there sticking glue-like to their campaign to obtain planning permission for the £40 million holiday resort in Balloch.

Green MSP Ross Greer, First Minister John Swinney, Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie and West Scotland Conservative MSP Pam Gosal.

“I am delighted by the unanimous rejection by the park board after a decade of attempts by Flamingo Land to force this daft mega resort on Balloch. More than 154,000 people joined our campaign and objected.

“They were joined by the Woodland Trust, Ramblers Scotland, the National Trust for Scotland and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. However, at its core, this was a community campaign. My constituents in Balloch and the Haldane want to turn the page.

“I have written to the First Minister to request that the Scottish Government terminate Flamingo Land’s exclusive contract with the Government agency that owns most of the site. The agreement was renewed after its first failed application in 2019. It is the key reason why the threat has hung over the people of Balloch for a decade, and it is what has prevented more appropriate development proposals from coming forward.

“Will the Scottish Government end rather than renew the agreement? Will it review the use of exclusivity agreements and the impact that they have on communities such as Balloch?”

However, John Swinney played the political card: “There are two elements to the question that Mr Greer has asked, and I understand entirely why he is raising the issue with me. The first element relates specifically to the Flamingo Land development. I had better not say anything specific about that, because a potential appeal could be made.

“The second element is about the provision of exclusivity agreements in principle. There will, of course, be mixed opinions about that, but part of the purpose of exclusivity arrangements is to accelerate planning developments that, in other circumstances, many of us might approve of.

“For example, renewable energy developments might be speeded up as a consequence of exclusivity arrangements that can be arrived at. We must take a broad view of such questions, because developments and opportunities that would be beneficial to the national interest might be able to be supported by moves of that type.

“However, I hear Mr Greer, and the important points that he has made are on the record.”

Mr Swinney replied: “That should be an essential part of any consideration in the planning process. It is in the interests of all parties, including communities and developers, to have good community engagement. In my experience, it is more likely that developments will be enabled if community concerns and interests have been properly taken into account when thinking about development propositions that are brought forward.”

Labour locally have come late to the table to support refusal.  Dumbarton MSP  Jackie Baillie moved to a new line which could result in the end with a final victory for the objectors to Flamingo Land’s plans.

She said: “The First Minister will be aware that there is a clause in the exclusivity agreement that allows Flamingo Land a further year to obtain planning permission. That can happen through either an appeal or a fresh application, neither of which can be achieved in that timeframe. Will the First Minister therefore end the exclusivity agreement now or, at the very least, not extend it?”

However Mr Swinney would not be moved. He said: “Jackie Baillie, whose interest in the matter I understand, encourages me to get into specific issues that could be material to any appeal that comes to ministers. She has long enough experience in the Parliament to know that I have to be very careful not to prejudice the position of Scottish ministers. I hear what she has said, and the Government will consider all relevant issues when any matters that might come to ministers have to be addressed.”