A COMMUNITY group is campaigning to transform an area on the banks of Loch Lomond into a multi-purpose watersports centre for school children.

Save Loch Lomond is now entering into the second phase of its campaign after proposals from Flamingo Land to develop woodland lodges, hotels, a monorail, a water park and other facilities were rejected. 

The Balloch organisation is now urging Scottish Enterprise to remove “the shackles” of the Exclusivity Agreement signed with Flamingo Land/Lomond Banks so they can exercise their right under the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 and develop the centre which they hope would offer rowing, canoeing abseiling and much more to children across the country. 

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Alannah Maurer, founder of Save Loch Lomond, said: “We are now in phase two of the campaign which is the setting up of the Loch Lomond South Community Development Trust.

“We have submitted requests for note of interest on the land and we would like to, through the Community Empowerment Act 2015, to have that land transferred back into community ownership.

“At the moment, that is stopped by the fact that Scottish Enterprise entered into an agreement with Flamingo Land and during that process, any other interest in the land cannot be entertained – you are completely shut out.

“We don’t think Flamingo Land should be able to come back and have a third bite of the cherry. 

“At the moment there are issues with climate change and sustainable development goals so we think we certainly wouldn’t want to touch areas where there is ancient woodland.

“We would like that to remain how it is but where the waterfront is concerned we think it lends itself particularly well to a national watersports outdoor centre.”

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The group thinks that Loch Lomond would be the perfect location for the first national watersports outdoor centre as it would serve the bulk of the population given that it is accessible from the two major cities.

It could benefit mental health and well-being and help children learn about the outdoors while promoting leadership skills. 

Alannah continued: “You could teach children to canoe, row, abseil or even paddleboard – there is just so much and handled properly there is no reason why it couldn’t be open to tourists so it could make money as well as being used as an outdoor centre for education.”

A Scottish Enterprise spokesperson said: “As the national and international economic development agency for Scotland, our role is to help create jobs and economic growth, which has always been our intention with this project.

“SE could have sold the land at West Riverside unconditionally but opted to make any disposal subject to planning permission to ensure consultation with the local community as part of the statutory planning process.

“We trust the planning process and respect the role of the planning authority.”