Charities slam 'political football' U-turn on resort application call

Criticised Green MSP Ross Greer’s campaign against the plans

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Three local charities claim the Scottish Government has "buckled to pressure" as they slammed the decision to re-examine the plans.

The Friends of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, Maid of the Loch Steamship Company and Helensburgh and District Access Trust say that the government has performed a U-turn as a result of the Lomond Banks planning application "becoming a political football in the run up to the Scottish Parliamentary elections next year".

They claim that thousands of concerned locals signed a "misleading" petition led by the Scottish Greenswhich attracted 50,000 signatures.

The charity groups contend that the Scottish Government's decision to 'call in' the planning application for Ministers to determine is contrary to what both the First Minister and Planning Minister indicated recently when they accepted the findings of their independent reporter who recommended approval.