FLAMINGO Land has withdrawn plans for its controversial £30 million Loch Lomond resort.
The holiday park, to be named Lomond Banks, drew 57,000 planning objections – a new record for Scotland.
The Yorkshire-based theme park operator aimed to build a monorail, water park, holiday accommodation and more.
But protesters said it would destroy lochside land and cause traffic chaos in host village Balloch, part of Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park.
The park's board was set to rule on the planning bid next week.
But today Flamingo Land and Scottish Enterprise, which was to sell the land for the development, announced they have withdrawn the bid.
READ MORE: Flamingoland fight sums up Scotland's landownership issues
The move comes after park officials recommended its refusal.
Andy Miller, director of Lomond Banks, said: “We’ve been working hard with all parties, including the National Park Authority, for more than two years to ensure all information relating to the proposed development was made readily available.
"We know the national park recognises that the majority of what we propose fits in with the LDP [local development plan]. It is therefore surprising and disappointing that their recommendation report raises previously unidentified concerns and highlights the need for new additional information. “Our priority now is to fully understand concerns, gather the necessary information and dispel some of the myths that continue to circulate around our ambitions for the site. It is only at this point, we will consider re-submitting our plans to ensure decision makers will be able to take a fully informed decision on this important application.”
Allan McQuade, director of Scottish Enterprise, stated: “Any proposed plan and investment of this scale must be considered from all angles and subsequent planning and investment decisions based on hard evidence and fact therefore it is only right that the current planning application be withdrawn to allow sufficient time for all parties to consider additional new information.
“As with previous developments at Loch Lomond, we understand people are concerned and our priority is to ensure that any development on the parcel of derelict land in Balloch is delivered in line with planning policy.”
West Dunbartonshire Council, which serves Balloch and surrounding area, opposed the development.
Leader Jonathan McColl told The National: "This is wonderful news and a real victory for local people, who have campaigned tirelessly over the past year and a half. I am hopeful that Scottish Enterprise will be quicker to take on board local views and that any potential future development plans will meet the needs and wishes of the local community."
And West of Scotland Green MSP Ross Greer, who headed a campaign against the resort, said: “Flamingo Land’s environmentally destructive proposal was the most unpopular planning application in Scottish history. More than 57,000 people objected including many in the local community who saw through the spin. Now, following our historic campaign and the National Park's own planning officers recommending a rejection, the developers have, for now, withdrawn their ridiculous plans.
"This is likely a transparent attempt to resubmit with a few small changes, cancelling the near sixty thousand objections lodged to the current proposals. If they think such a cynical ploy will stop our community campaign, they have another thing coming."
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