Thousands of people have been misled into signing a petition to save Loch Lomond, despite the fact that the iconic Scottish location was never under any threat. The petition, led by the Green Party, used an image from the slopes of Ben Lomond, located 20 miles away from the proposed development site, to stir up emotions and garner support.
The Scottish Government’s decision to call in the planning application for Ministers to determine has drawn concern from three charity groups – the Friends of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, Maid of the Loch Steamship Company and Helensburgh and District Access Trust. These groups, with a long history of delivering countryside access, conservation, and heritage projects in and around Loch Lomond, believe that the decision was made due to political pressure in the run-up to next year’s Scottish Parliamentary elections. This is contrary to what both the First Minister and Planning Minister had previously indicated when they accepted the findings of their independent Reporter, who recommended approval.
The three charity groups had previously welcomed the independent Scottish Government Reporter’s decision to overturn the National Park’s refusal of planning permission for the £42million Lomond Banks development. The development, which would take place on brownfield sites in Balloch, was seen as a much-needed boost to the local economy, as well as an opportunity for important natural and cultural heritage restoration initiatives at the southern end of Loch Lomond.
Contrary to the misleading information and imagery being used by the Greens’ Save Loch Lomond campaign, the charity groups believe that the development was never going to threaten the special qualities of Loch Lomond. The proposed development site is largely on land that has been zoned for tourism and recreation for many decades, and on degraded ‘brownfield’ land that was previously used for sand and gravel extraction, railway lines and sidings, a holiday caravan park with loch frontage, and a now derelict Grade A historic Woodbank House Hotel. The development will also have a very limited loch frontage on previously developed land.
The charity groups have identified more than 20 direct and indirect benefits that will arise from the development if Ministers grant approval. These include the regeneration of the centre of Balloch and Balloch Pierhead, the creation of a quality gateway to Loch Lomond and a visitor destination to be proud of, the re-connection of the village centre Balloch with the pierhead with a crucial rail link, and the creation of many good quality jobs. The development will also help to sustain existing jobs in an area with high unemployment. Other benefits include the improvement of the local footpath network, improved management and expansion of woodlands, and the generation of substantial funds to support local public services and a wide range of visitor management, conservation, and heritage initiatives.
Stewart Gibb, Vice Chair of Helensburgh and District Access Trust, expressed dismay at the news that the development may now be in doubt once again after the independent Reporter appointed by the Scottish Government came out in favour and comprehensively demolished the grounds for refusal.
John Urquhart, Chairman of the conservation charity, The Friends of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs, stated that their long-standing support for the development was based on the area being consistently zoned for tourism for over 40 years on former industrial land in planning policy documents, as well as the considerable conservation and economic benefits it promises. He also expressed concern about the misleading information and imagery used by the Greens’ Save Loch Lomond campaign to try and undermine the high-quality development in Balloch.
Iain Robertson, Chair of the Loch Lomond Steamship Company, whose volunteers are working hard to restore the “Maid of The Loch” paddle steamer, added that the development is key to their efforts to preserve the iconic vessel for future generations, as well as helping to address some of the loch’s serious transport and visitor pressures.
If given the go-ahead, the development is expected to provide a range of direct and indirect benefits, including creating many high-quality job opportunities for local people, helping to sustain existing businesses in Balloch Main Street and at Lomond Shores, generating over £1 million per annum in commercial rates and visitor levies to support local public services, and bringing the Old Balloch Station building back into use. Other potential benefits include the creation of an attractive village square, reconnecting the centre of Balloch by rail and public transport with Balloch Pier, and improving traffic flows on the A82.
The development will also involve the creation of additional woodland on the site and nearby, the restoration of the derelict Grade A listed former Hamilton House (Woodbank House) Hotel building, and the provision of high-quality site interpretation and education initiatives. It will also support efforts to preserve and restore the Maid of the Loch and piers around the loch, as well as providing a wildlife-friendly pedestrian bridge and improving the