The Scottish Government has been accused of “irregularities” in the handling of Flamingo Land’s planning appeal for its controversial resort on Loch Lomond.
The £40 million Lomond Banks development was expected to get the go-ahead after the government reporter overturned the national park authority’s decision to reject it.
Minister for Public Finance, Ivan McKee said he had no intention of calling in the appeal until a potentially embarrassing defeat in parliament forced him to review that decision.
Scottish Green MSP Ross Greer has now questioned the decision to have the review led by the same official, David Buylla, who recommended that the resort be approved. Mr Greer’s legal adviser Ian Cowan warned this risks making the process ‘tainted by bias’.
In a letter to the government, Mr Greer claims there is a contradiction in the dates of specific documents.
“The Scottish Government has made some deeply questionable decisions,” said Mr Greet. “They refuse to hold any public hearing and have asked the same official who tried to approve the plans to “mark his own homework” by making recommendation for a fresh decision.
“Now they’re asking Flamingo Land to draft their own planning conditions on their own terms, against the wishes of the National Park. Is it any wonder that local people get the feeling that the cards are being stacked against them?
“I hope there is a simple explanation for this inconsistency in the date of the official’s appointment, because it is hugely concerning.
“There needs to be full transparency here if the public are to have any confidence in this process. As it stands, the timeline just doesn’t add up and that’s a massive cause for concern.”
The Scottish Government said it recalled the application approval as “the proposed development raises issues of national significance”. A spokesperson said: “As this is a live planning appeal, it would not be appropriate to comment further.”
Flamingo Land’s lawyers said the complaints about the new process were “without substance”.
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