By Jos Weale

MORE than a hundred people gathered to stand up against the proposed £30 million Flamingo Land development plans on the banks of Loch Lomond.

Friends of Drumkinnon Bay organised a peaceful “hands round Drumkinnon Bay” protest to voice their thoughts on the controversial proposals.

Flamingo Land and Scottish Enterprise have applied for planning permission in principle for a development including over 100 holiday lodges, a monorail and water park.

Emma McKerry, who helped organise the gathering, said she fears for the future of Drumkinnon Bay, the woods and the riverside, known to locals as the “Three Sacred Cows” if the plans go ahead.

Emma said: “The carbon footprint alone will damage the woods. When you start putting lodges in it sets a dangerous precedent for the future with restricted access.

“With a waterpark that bay will never be the same.

“There are a lot of elderly people in the area that can’t walk up to Balloch Park, so they’ll use the woods. And most important is the wellbeing of the trees and the wildlife.

“These new jobs I believe won’t impact people’s lives. I believe it’ll be seasonal work.”

Emma said there was a great turnout to their protest, which included a walk around the woods, and a joining of hands around Drumkinnon Bay, accompanied by a bag pipe player.

A spokesman for Flamingo Land said a number of changes were made to the plans following consultation days.

He added: “These changes have included the removal of a viewing tower, retaining the north beach at Drumkinnon Bay, we have committed to signing up to the Scottish living wage and many other changes.

“We are forging great links with local businesses to make sure the economic benefit is far spread around Balloch and the Vale of Leven.”