A REVIEW into the Scottish Government's decision to approve Flamingo Land's controversial Loch Lomond resort is being led by the same official who first gave it the go-ahead.
The Scottish Government recalled plans to build the resort on the banks of Loch Lomond last month, after it was announced the developers had been granted their appeal after it was rejected by the local authority.
Scottish Government reporter David Buylla, who gave the £43.5 million project in Balloch planning permission, is now set to advise SNP ministers who have called in the decision for reappraisal, the Sunday Mail reports.
The recall, undertaken by Public Finance Minister Ivan McKee, means that ministers will now consider the proposals directly.
If it goes ahead, the resort would see a waterpark, a monorail, hotels, restaurants, a brewery and 104 woodland chalets built.
The plans have been met with criticism from local campaigners and politicians, which have been branded as "hysteria" by developers Lomond Banks.
According to the Sunday Mail, Buylla is now tasked with writing a new report, including recommendations to inform McKee's decision.
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, while there are also three assistant chief reporters and one chief reporter.
Alannah Maurer, campaigner with the Save Loch Lomond campaign, told the Sunday Mail: “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.”
Scottish Greens MSP Ross Greer, who has been involved with the campaign against Flamingo Land's plans, said ministers "cannot hide behind officials" when making their decision.
“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."
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.”
