MORE than 17,000 people have signed a petition protesting against plans for the proposed £30 million Flamingo Land tourism development at Loch Lomond.

The number of signatories has increased significantly after the long-awaited application by the developer and Scottish Enterprise was published online last month.

Flamingo Land and the enterprise company are seeking planning permission in principle for the development at Balloch, with the proposed development at this stage comprising of key parameters, within which its detailed design can be confirmed later.

Up to 105 self-catering lodges, a 60 bedroom apart-hotel, 32-bed budget accommodation, leisure/pool/water park area, monorail and brewery all feature as part of the development plans in the application submitted to the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority.

Bruce Biddulph, who started the petition, said: “I do not think the sale of this land should have gone ahead the way it did, without consulting the public first.

“It appeared to go ahead under the radar.

“I do not think the public were made fully aware of what was going on and the implications of this sale weren’t made all that public.

“We do need more accommodation. This is not an ‘anti’ stance. It’s asking why it was sold in the first place.

“I hope that the petition will start a conversation about Balloch and what it really needs.

“I am not anti development."