A DECISION will be made this summer on whether or not a new £40million resort is given the green light.
Plans for the new park in Loch Lomond, Scotland, have been put forward by Flamingo Land.
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The company has a pre-existing theme park in Yorkshire, and has recently taken over operation of a waterpark in Scarborough.
Now it hopes to expand its portfolio further, with the new site north of the border.
Flamingo Land was first given access to develop the new resort as far back as 2016, after submitting plans for a 46-acre park.
The site in question is in Balloch, right on the banks of the southern tip of the loch.
However, the initial proposals had to be withdrawn three years later following protests and campaigning from concerned locals.
But the theme park’s chiefs haven’t been put off and returned with the latest plans for the resort, which would be called Lomond Banks.
The resort would be mainly based around a large leisure centre with a swimming pool, water park and spa.
Guests would have several accommodation options, including an apart-hotel with 60 rooms, and a budget hotel with 32 beds.
Elsewhere, 104 holiday lodges, ranging from single story woodland lodges on the riverfront to larger countryside lodges, would also be built, should the resort be given the go-ahead.
Restaurants, cafes, shops and even a brewery and pub would be on-site, according to the plans.
A monorail would transport guests around the site, with a number of outdoor activity areas for live events, BBQs and picnics also put forward by developers.
Flamingo Land has previously claimed that the project would create hundreds of jobs for locals, while also raising around £3m for the local economy.
But the proposals have proven to be very unpopular with residents, many of whom would rather protect the natural landscape rather than build on it.
Close to 100,000 people have signed a petition against the resort, showing just how strongly people feel about the plans.
Now, a date to decide whether or not the resort is given the go-ahead has been set, by the Loch Lomond and the Trossach National Park Authority (LLTNPA).
A site visit, public hearing and board meeting will be held on September 16, so that a final decision can be made.
A spokesperson for the LLTNPA told the Scotsman: “No position has yet been taken, in support of or against this planning application.
“With high levels of public interest, we felt it would be useful to set out as early as possible the process for taking a decision.”
Developers have previously pledged to “be a good neighbour, a responsible employer and green operator” and said that the resort would become “a source of pride amongst the local community for generations to come”.
However, opponents remain unconvinced, with the Scottish Green party labelling it “the most unpopular planning application in Scottish history”.
Meanwhile, this new holiday resort is also set to open in the UK – with 130 lodges, swimming pool and farm shops.
And a £300m holiday resort with adventure zones and a waterpark is being planned for Wales.
