Latest news with #Trossachs
BBC News
6 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Flamingo Land accuses critics of 'sensationalist hysteria'
The director behind a controversial proposal to site a holiday park in Loch Lomond has accused critics of "hysteria and mistruth".Jim Paterson, Lomond Banks' development director, said opponents of the plan had run a campaign with "baseless and offensive" claims about the Flamingo Land Scottish government last week stalled plans for the holiday park at Loch Mr Paterson said the move raised serious questions about the integrity of Scottish planning and risked investment in the country. The £40m resort would feature a waterpark, monorail, hotel and restaurants, but it has attracted criticism from locals and politicians. Flamingo Land believed the proposal was set to be given the green light after an appeal to the Scottish government reporter overturned a rejection by Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Public Finance Minister Ivan McKee last week said he would recall the plans as they raised "issues of national significance". Mr Paterson said the government decision "undermines the objective and independent judgment of the DPEA (Planning and Environmental Appeals Division) reporter".He also confirmed the company - which has operated a theme park in North Yorkshire since 1959 - would take legal Paterson added: "The land in question has been allocated for sustainable tourism development for decades, a fact acknowledged by the DPEA reporter. "To have this long-established planning context disregarded at the eleventh hour raises serious questions, not only about the integrity and consistency of the Scottish planning system but also about Scotland as an investment destination." Opponents of the plan, including Scottish Greens MSP Ross Greer, have argued the resort would cause considerable damage to the Loch Lomond area, affecting woodland and resulting in a huge amount of extra traffic in the region. But Mr Paterson said Greer's claims were an attempt to "stoke public fear and misinformation".He added: "The opposition has, unfortunately, relied on a sensationalist and misleading campaign, filled with hysteria, mistruths and inaccuracies, some of which disconcertingly continued to be relayed in last week's parliament debate."The director argued the Lomond Banks plan would not dominate the area as Paterson said the development would "front onto" 280m (0.28km) - 0.2% of Loch Lomond's 153.5 km (95.4 miles) also pledged green spaces, like the ancient woodland at Drumkinnon Wood, would be Paterson called on the Scottish government to "see through the hysteria" when making a decision. And he said it was "baseless and offensive" for critics to accuse the Yorkshire company of infiltrating Scotland as it was registered in Scotland. Flamingo Land first submitted plans for the site in 2018, but withdrew them the following year after a wave of negative submitted updated plans in 2020, insisting the proposal would be a "major step away" from its other company have also argued the plans would boost unemployment in the region - a claim dismissed by critics who said most jobs would be short-term row has rumbled on over the last five years, with local community councils and environmental body Sepa expressing Lomond & The Trossachs National Park authority board unanimously voted against the development in September 2024, ruling that it did not comply with environmental and nature conservation the time Stuart Pearce, director of place for the park authority, said the resort plan created an "unacceptable risk" of flooding of the River Leven.
Times
12-06-2025
- Times
A lochside retreat in the ‘Gateway to the Highlands'
The first dip into the loch took my breath away — literally. The water was so cold it made my toes ache, my breath catch and my body scream to get out. It was like pressing reset on every nerve. Emerging wide-eyed and invigorated, I padded barefoot up the sandy bank and into the sauna, warm and glowing, which awaited me like a silent reward. Inside, cedar-scented heat wrapped around me like a blanket, thawing every frozen thought. That pattern of cold and heat, effort and rest, came to define our time at Willow Cabin, one of four Loch Venachar cabins, right on the water and a 15-minute drive west of Callander. I may only have been one hour from Glasgow but this felt like more than just a holiday; it was a recalibration. The cabin sits quietly on the edge of the loch, its timber frame low and unobtrusive against the Trossachs backdrop. From the outside it's modest, almost self-effacing, but step inside and you're greeted with a huge open-plan space that is much larger than it appears and full of natural light. Floor-to-ceiling windows make the loch your personal painting, ever-changing yet always still. We settled into a simple rhythm: morning coffee on the balcony while wrapped in thick jumpers with our hands cradling mugs and the outdoor fire crackling beside us; evenings playing Jenga and drinking wine after dinner. There's no TV and that's the point. You talk, you listen to the fire, you watch the light shift on the water. • Blowing the cover on Scotland's secret island escape We ate well, in that unhurried, slightly improvised way that holidays encourage. The first night we made pasta with supplies picked up en route from Marks & Spencer (because nothing says a holiday like a Marks's picky tea). On the second day, we wandered into Callander and treated ourselves to coffee and lunch at Mhor Bread, a bakery whose cakes and sandwiches more than live up to their reputation (tip: try their sausage rolls, they're divine). The village is full of charm with bookshops, one complete with its own resident cat, and well-stocked charity shops where I added to my Nigella collection. There's plenty to do — walks up Ben Ledi, fishing in the Teith, cycling to Balquhidder up National Cycle Network Route 7 — but the beauty of Willow Cabin is that you don't have to do much at all. After gallivanting in the village, we were excited to get home and make ourselves cosy by the fire. The cabin encourages you to slow down. The sauna and log-burners (both indoor and out) are more than just luxuries. They invite you to truly rest. You'll find yourself watching flames instead of checking your phone. There are generous logs provided, underfloor heating, four bedrooms and big communal spaces, making it ideal for groups or families. As with most things off-grid and idyllic, there are trade-offs. The kitchen, while fully functional, was missing a few basics like sugar. The decor didn't quite follow a single theme — more 'accumulated over time' than 'curated', but that could just be my style — and we did notice the odd cobweb in corners, a reminder perhaps of the cabin's wild surroundings. However, we did learn a key lesson: always bring more wine than you think you'll need. The nearest shop is four miles away in Callander, which is not ideal after a couple of drinks. Running out meant adjusting expectations and in some ways, that's the point. You come here to step out of the cycle of convenience and into something slower, quieter, more intentional. Only as we later packed up and drove the winding private road back towards civilisation — but not without a stop first to see the Highland cows being crowded around like the celebrities that they are — did I really reflect on where we'd been. Callander is the kind of Highland town that seems to exist outside of time (it even has a Christmas shop selling baubles year round). Known as the Gateway to the Highlands, it has everything you need: good cafés, a butcher, several pubs, a Chinese and access to trails and lochs that stretch for miles. So often travel feels rushed, chock-a-block with sights and plans. But Willow Cabin offers something else entirely — a stillness that gets under your skin and a slowness that stays with you. You swim in freezing loch water, you warm yourself by the fire and, somewhere along the way, you remember how good it feels to just be there. Carla Jenkins was a guest of Loch Venachar Cabins ( where Willow Cabin costs from £230 per night
Daily Mail
11-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Major blow dealt to plans for controversial Flamingo Land resort in Scotland
Plans for a controversial holiday park in Loch Lomond have been stalled by the Scottish Government. Ministers had been expected to give permission for the resort development but have now reconsidered due to its 'potential impact on Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park'. Operated by Flamingo Land, the proposed £40m resort was set to feature a monorail, waterpark, hotel and restaurants. Ivan McKee, Scotland's Minister for Public Finance, said he is now recalling the plans as 'the appeal should be determined at a national level', reports the BBC. The original proposal was first rejected in September 2024 amid protests by local residents. Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park authority said the park did not comply with environmental policies. Flamingo Land then appealed to the Scottish government reporter who had said they planned to allow the resort as long as Flamingo Land signed a legal agreement with the national park. But following the recall, the final decision on the Flamingo Land resort's future will now be made by ministers. Ross Greer, a Scottish Green MSP, said McKee's decision to recall the plans was the 'right move'. He said: 'Once ministers consider the flood risk, loss of ancient woodland, hundreds of additional cars which would have be brought onto notoriously congested roads and the litany of other devastating impacts it would have, I am sure they will reject the mega-resort application and finally end this decade-long saga.' Scottish Labour's deputy leader Jackie Baillie also welcomed the decision, claiming that the SNP had 'ignored concerns' about the park 'time and time again'. The Balloch and Haldane Community Council said it had had more than 50,000 new objections to the plans last week. Flamingo Land submitted updated plans for its park in 2020 and described the development, set to be called Lomond Banks, as a 'major step away' from its other theme park style resorts. The company currently runs the Flamingo Land resort in North Yorkshire which offers amusement rides and exotic animals.
BBC News
10-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Ministers stall plans for Loch Lomond Flamingo Land resort
The Scottish government has stalled plans for a controversial holiday park at Loch had previously been set to give permission for the development, overturning the national park authority which said it did not comply with environmental and nature conservation park operator Flamingo Land believed it would be given the go-ahead to build a £40m resort called Lomond Banks, featuring a waterpark, monorail, hotel and Scottish government's Minister for Public Finance, Ivan McKee, has now said he will recall the plans because "the development raises issues of national significance in view of its potential impact on Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park". This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on X to get the latest alerts.
Daily Mail
29-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
New Flamingo Land theme park planned for UK beauty spot - but locals aren't happy
Plans to build a new theme park resort in Scotland have taken another hit, following years of opposition from politicians, environmental groups and local communities. An emergency public meeting has been set up to discuss the controversial development of Flamingo Land on the banks of Loch Lomond. The £40 million proposal includes hotels, over 100 holiday lodges, a waterpark, restaurants, and even a monorail. It's the latest version of plans that were first put forward back in 2018 - but scrapped a year later after public backlash. Flamingo Land later came back with an updated proposal in 2020, promising a resort that would be a 'major step away' from its existing Yorkshire theme park and zoo. But despite those changes, the project has continued to face resistance from both locals, MPs and conservation groups. The development site is in Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, an area known for its stunning scenery, ancient oak woodlands and rare wildlife, such as red deer. Earlier this year, the Scottish Government gave the project the green light, overturning a decision by the national park authority which had rejected the plans on environmental grounds. The decision sparked outrage, especially from Scottish Greens MSP Ross Greer, who called the approval an 'anti-democratic outrage' and said the plans would cause 'irreversible damage.' He also pointed out that the project had been opposed by several key organisations, including the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, the National Trust for Scotland, and over 155,000 people who signed the Save Loch Lomond campaign. As reported by the Sun, he added: 'We are urgently considering our options for continuing this fight. I will leave no stone unturned in the campaign to save Loch Lomond.' Concerns from the park authority have also been raised about the 'unacceptable' risk of flooding from the nearby River Leven. A recent report added 49 conditions to the approval, and while it said the site could operate safely, many have yet to be convinced. Local groups such as Balloch and Haldane Community council say they're 'deeply disappointed' in the government's decision and claim it goes against what the community wants. Supporters of the plan argue it could bring jobs and boost tourism in the area, but with public pressure continues to grow, as a petition opposing the project amasses a whopping 174,000 signatures. A public meeting has now been set for 30 May to discuss the future of the park. Meanwhile, Paultons Park, which sits on 65 acres on the New Forest's edge in Hampshire, will open a brand new £12million themed world, Valgard - Realm of the Vikings, in 2026. The park, already a hit with younger children thanks to Peppa Pig World, recently cut the ribbon on its latest attraction, Ghostly Manor - a £3.5 million ghoulish interactive gameplay ride. The developments will see it likely rival some of the nation's biggest theme parks - including Alton Towers, Chessington World of Adventures and Thorpe Park - for visitors next summer. Viking-themed Valgard is Paultons' biggest investment in a new themed area to date and is aimed at teens and older children.
