Controversial plans to build a £30 million tourist and leisure development in Balloch have won qualified support from an influential conservation and heritage charity.

The backing has come from Friends of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs who say say the Flamingoland resort will have far reaching economic, social and conservation benefits for Loch Lomond, Balloch and the Vale of Leven.

And they add that it will help deliver a vision for the loch first set out by Sir Patrick Abercrombie in the Clyde Valley Regional Plan as far back as 1949 and in subsequent plans for Loch Lomond.

Commenting on their submission, James Fraser, chairman of the Friends, said the decision to support the current development proposals was taken after very careful consideration of the plans, a site visit and a number of pre-application meetings with the developers.

He said: "This led to some elements of the original scheme being scrapped, such as a large viewing tower and floating holiday boats in the River Leven close to the stretch of river currently occupied by local cruising club mooring facilities.’’

The application by SE and holiday company Flamingo Land for ‘planning permission in principle’ for the Woodbank House and West Riverside site was unveiled in the Spring.

The proposals include a monorail, ‘apart-hotel’, budget accommodation, self-catering lodges, houses, a water park, a brewery, restaurants, cafes and retail facilities, outdoor adventure areas, space for events and performances and more.

However, the plans prompted hundreds of comments on the website of the planning authority, the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, while thousands added their names to online petitions protesting against the plans.

Many of the objectors said the development would be inappropriate in an area of outstanding natural beauty and would take customers away from existing businesses.

Mr Fraser said: "The outline proposals, with some modifications to accommodate a bolder transport solution to move people around Balloch more easily linked to better traffic management arrangements and car parking improvements, will have far reaching economic, social and conservation benefits for Loch Lomond, Balloch and the Vale of Leven and they will help to realise the undoubted tourist and recreational potential of Balloch as the gateway to Loch Lomond.’’

Around 30 years ago the Friends, local councillors and the Area Tourist Board successfully fought a local public inquiry, which prevented the land at Drumkninnon Bay being covered by luxury Cala housing.

This secured the future of the land for the public to enjoy for tourism and leisure purposes following comprehensive redevelopment of, what then was, a large tract of unsightly former industrial land with a mix of disused gravel workings, a derelict silk dye works, extensive disused railway sidings and a former large shorefront static holiday caravan park.

The Friends cite the following five points as the main reasons for supporting the proposals:

The proposals are comprehensive, appropriate in scale and nature and are in largely accordance with the zoning in current and previous local development Plans.

The proposed development will help strengthen Balloch’s appeal as a tourist destination and resort with a range of family orientated accommodation, activities and wet weather facilities which should encourage longer staying visitors with consequent economic spin off benefits for the wider community and existing businesses.

The extensive site will remain available for the public to enjoy for recreation and tourism purposes.

The development proposals include plans to engage visitors in conservation educational activities and appreciating the special natural and cultural heritage qualities of Loch Lomond.

There is an opportunity as part of the development to improve transport connections between different parts of the village as well as parking and traffic management arrangements for the benefit of local residents and visitors.