Fears SNP is 'railroading through' resort review

The Scottish Government has been accused of trying to “railroad through” Flamingo Land’s Loch Lomond resort.

- BY DAN VEVERS

Labour MSP for Dumbarton Jackie Baillie said SNP minister Ivan McKee was treating local opponents to the controversial £43.5million bid with “disdain” and added he should not be allowed to decide the case.

It comes after the proposed Lomond Banks resort in Balloch by Yorkshire theme park firm Flamingo Land was rejected by Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park last year.

The SNP sparked an outcry when in May its Reporter David Buylla overruled them and green-lit the resort - a decision initially backed by public finance minister McKee.

Last month McKee was forced into a U-turn amid local opposition and the threat of a parliamentary defeat led by Baillie and has “called in” the appeal, meaning it must be directly considered by ministers.

Baillie has warned Holyrood chiefs against trying to rush through a decision while MSPs are on holiday - as our sister paper the Sunday Mail revealed that officials set out a speeded-up six-week timeline.