THE company behind proposals for a £40 million tourist development at the southern end of Loch Lomond has been accused of trying to use “slick PR” to get the public behind revised plans for the area.

The Reporter recently told how “community engagement lead” Fiona Robertson had been appointed by Flamingo Land to lead its consultation on the proposed development of the West Riverside and Woodbank House sites over the coming months.

But the company’s approach attracted a scathing response from Green MSP Ross Greer, a long-standing critic of the proposals – who hit out at what he called the company’s “all or nothing” approach to the development of the two sites.

According to the latest documents published on the National Park’s website, the revisions to the 2019 plans include a reduction in the scale of development at the pierhead, the omission of any proposed lodges in Drumkinnon Wood, and re-working of the proposals for Woodbank House and its attendant buildings, though there is no further information on the detail of the revised proposals.

Mr Greer said: “The fact Flamingo Land feels the need to step up its PR game is telling, but it won’t work.

“The community are exhausted by this saga but if forced to, they will continue to defend Loch Lomond’s world-famous natural environment from those only interested in exploiting it for profit.

“No matter how slick their PR is, the fundamental problems with this proposal remain unchanged. Some areas of the site, such as Woodbank House, are absolutely suitable for development but others are not.

“For as long as Flamingo Land take this all-or-nothing approach, we will continue to oppose them at every step.”

Previous proposals for the sites were withdrawn in 2019 after more than 50,000 objections were lodged – and after officials recommended the company’s application should be refused.

A spokesperson for Lomond Banks replied: “Bringing forward a sustainable world-class tourism development that the local community can be truly proud of has always been of the utmost importance to the Lomond Banks team.

“We have listened to feedback from the previous submission and we are committed to ensuring we engage with the community as much we can before submitting a revised planning application.

"A highly-respected consultant has been instructed, with their sole focus on liaising with local businesses and the wider community to ensure their views are heard and acted upon.

“A number of changes have already been made to the proposals, including the removal of any development within the ancient woodland of Drumkinnon Woods.

"This area is to be set aside as a woodland management and conservation project with a new management plan safeguarding its future use for all.”

The latest documents on the proposals give further details of the company’s plans for public consultation events during September, October and November.

The company is now proposing an online consultation from September 28 to October 12, a live online session on October 7, and an in-person consultation event – Covid restrictions permitting – during the week beginning November 22 in “a local venue” in Balloch.

The company says that if an in-person live event is not possible in November, an online session similar to the October event will be held instead.