Campaigners who fought to stop a theme park being built on the shores of Loch Lomond have criticised a decision to allow the developer more time to consider an appeal.

Plans by Flamingo Land for a theme park with two hotels, a hundred lodges, monorail and 370 parking spaces were unanimously rejected by the board of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.

The decision followed a campaign led by Green MSP Ross Greer who collected a record 155,000 objections alongside objections from a variety of environmental groups and organisations. Other objectors included Labour’s deputy leader Jackie Baillie.

Scottish Enterprise has now extended Flamingo Land’s exclusivity over the land alongside the River Leven and southern shore of Loch Lomond, which makes up a majority of the proposed site. 

This extension allows Flamingo Land the exclusive right to buy the publicly-owned land if it secures planning permission.

Mr Greer said: “This ridiculous company just doesn’t know when to give up, and it is bitterly disappointing that the Scottish Government are helping them in their attempts to ruin this special corner of Loch Lomond.”

He said it means that “an appeal is now all but certain, despite the overwhelming reasons for its rejection in the first place.”

Mr Greer added; “We have urged Flamingo Land to accept reality and get round the table to discuss alternatives, but they clearly have no interest in listening to the community.

“The Scottish Greens will continue our campaign and work alongside Balloch residents to ensure that these destructive plans are rejected once again. Exhausted as we all are after a decade of this nonsense, we are ready to fight once again to save Loch Lomond.”

Ms Baillie said: “I am extremely disappointed by Scottish Enterprise’s decision to extend the exclusivity agreement to the West Riverside site, which will effectively enable Flamingo Land to lodge an appeal.

“This was a unanimous decision of the National Park Authority’s board, following a very tense meeting, during which the feelings of the community were made clear.

“I am clear that there is significant opposition to this development in the community, for a variety of reasons.

“I am clear that the majority of the community do not wish this development to go ahead.”

At First Minister’s Questions on Thursday, Ms Baillie asked John Swinney to end the deal. The developer had not appealed by the deadline of 16 December.

A spokesperson for Scottish Enterprise said: “Scotland’s statutory planning process is designed to ensure that economic, environmental and community interests are all taken into account when an application is considered.

“That is why we opted to make any sale of the land at West Riverside subject to planning permission, ensuring that the full range of evidence and views are fully considered.

“We believe this process should be allowed to run to its conclusion. Scottish Enterprise will therefore extend the conditional missive with the developer to allow any planning appeal to be considered.

“We continue our engagement with Balloch and Haldane Community Council around their plans to see how we can support them while this process is ongoing.”