Scots Gov official who approved Flamingo Land will lead the review into decision

By Dan Vevers

A review of the Scottish Government’s widely criticised move to approve Flamingo Land’s Loch Lomond resort will be led by the same official who gave it the green light. The Sunday Mail has learned Scottish Government Reporter David Buylla – who gave the controversial £43.5million project in Balloch planning permission – will now advise SNP ministers who have been forced to call in the decision for reappraisal. Furious activists say it showed the process was a “sham”. The government was forced to U-turn on the initial backing for the lochside resort by Buylla – a top civil servant – amid local opposition and the threat of a parliamentary defeat. Community councillor Lynne Somerville said: “It beggars belief they’re allowing the same man that caused this outrage in the first place to write this new report. There’s a complete conflict of interest and I think that really needs to be recognised by the Scottish Government .” Board members of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park are also opposed to the development. Dubbed “ Lomond Banks”, the resort by Yorkshire theme park operator Flamingo Land would see a waterpark, a monorail, hotels, restaurants, a brewery and 104 woodland chalets built. After 50,000 people signed a petition urging ministers to reconsider the decision, Public Finance Minister Ivan McKee “called in” the appeal last month, meaning ministers will consider it directly. But we can reveal the same Reporter, Buylla, is tasked with writing a new report including recommendations to inform McKee’s decision. Somerville said: “Why does Ivan McKee or anyone else think it’s appropriate the same man is being asked to produce the report that will influence, guide and steer the outcome? “It’s like they are trying to hide behind him and he is being used as the proverbial scapegoat. It does not paint the Scottish Government in a good light.” Scottish Government Reporters are civil servants within the Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) who decide on planning appeals. Buylla is one of five principal reporters at the DPEA, which also has a chief reporter and three assistant chief reporters. Alannah Maurer, campaigner with the Save Loch Lomond campaign, said: “You’d assume someone else would have been assigned. You have to consider professional integrity because how does he say anything other than what he previously said? “It’s absolutely clear there is no democracy, particularly where planning is concerned. The developer can appeal but the public has no right of appeal. “Our best hope is that ministers will see sense, pay attention to the public – but it’s clear public opinion counts for nothing.” Buylla’s continued involvement in the appeal was first revealed by environmental campaigner and blogger Nick Kempe, who branded Scotland’s planning system a “farce”. He wrote last week: “It appears the DPEA is still very much in charge. “Without any instructions/steer from Mr McKee about what he wishes Mr Buylla to reconsider, it is difficult to see why he would change anything substantial in his report.” Tory West Scotland MSP Pam Gosal said: “Given the controversy surrounding the SNP’s handling of this issue, serious questions must be answered about the appropriateness of this latest appointment. “Instead of continually forcing solutions and railroading their plans through parliament, SNP ministers should instead heed the widespread concerns of locals who firmly oppose the Flamingo Land proposals at Loch Lomond.” Scottish Green MSP Ross Greer commented: “Ministers cannot hide behind officials when the gateway to Loch Lomond is at stake. They need to take control of this process themselves. “For a start, they must do what did not happen at the appeal stage; speak to the community, to myself and others like the Woodland Trust who submitted substantial evidence against Flamingo Land’s destructive plans. “They absolutely must speak to the National Park’s own planning experts, whose report advising their board to reject the application was clearly badly misunderstood by Government officials. “The Planning Minister should call a public hearing and come to his own decision based on the evidence. Rehashing the same flawed report from officials and waiting until after next year’s election to sign it off would be totally unacceptable.” Last month, developers Lomond Banks criticised the decision to recall the decision to approve and hit out at “hysteria” over the proposals which they say will bring much-needed jobs and investment to the area. A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “Ministers decided to recall the Lomond Banks appeal as the proposed development raises issues of national significance in view of its potential impact on Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. “As this is a live planning appeal it would not be appropriate to comment further.”

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