Plans by the owners of the English amusement park Flamingo Land to build a leisure resort on the banks of Loch Lomond in Scotland have moved a step closer.
The North Yorkshire park, zoo and holiday village operator will soon launch a website showcasing its proposals as part of a public consultation for the £30 million ($28m/€24m) Iconic Leisure Resort Loch Lomond project.
Flamingo Land was selected by Scottish Enterprise as the preferred developer for a 49-acre West Riverside site at Balloch. According to The Scotsman, it proposes a development including a boutique hotel, lodges and restaurants. In addition, there would also be some high-quality, family-based attractions.
“Following a stringent bidding process, Flamingo Land’s proposal clearly aims to recognise the key sensitivities of developing within Scotland’s national park,” says Derek McCrindle, director of the growth sector at Scottish Enterprise. ”This, together with its strong track record in creating visitor attractions made it the developer of choice for this opportunity.”
Flamingo Land chief executive Gordon Gibb, who was born in Scotland, says he sees huge potential for creating a family-friendly offering in the area while supporting the national park’s sustainable tourism objectives.
Residents’ concerns
Responding last September to concerns from the tens of thousands of local residents who signed a petition against the development, Gibb aimed to put their minds at rest.
“Flamingo Land totally understands some of the local concerns about our proposed leisure resort,” he said. “Our bid was successful due to the sensitive way in which we have considered the site in question. To be frank, if our plans are not welcomed by most of the people in Scotland then we will not proceed further but I do not trust the results of the petition and we have not yet been given the chance to fully explain our plans.”
Last year, the company revealed its desire to open an indoor park called Flamingo Land Coast in Scarborough, closer to its main park in Kirby Misperton.
Images courtesy Visit Scotland/Flamingo Land
https://www.scotsman.com/news/environment/flamingo-land-at-balloch-a-step-closer-with-public-consultation-1-4495174
