FLAMINGO Land director Andy Miller has attempted to pour cold water on accusations of a “sweetheart deal” with Scottish Enterprise over the land earmarked for the proposed Lomond Banks development.

Campaigners against the major development on the southern banks of Loch Lomond claim land purchased by Scottish Enterprise - who are now a joint applicant in the project - for a reported £2million is due to be sold to Flamingo Land for just £200,000.

A public meeting last month heard claims from opponents that the sale of the land amounted to a "sweetheart deal" with Scottish Enterprise for the site.

Mr Miller, Flamingo Land’s director of sales, said the land is much smaller than the plot which was originally purchased.

READ MORE: Flamingo Land boss hits out at 'misleading' critics of Loch Lomond plans

He said: “The space we’re talking about is much, much smaller than what was initially purchased.

“There have been other things which have been built around the site we’re looking at, like Lomond Shores and Drumkinnon Gate.

“The initial sale was for a much wider area than what we’re looking at building on now.”

Meanwhile, Mr Miller has also refused to backtrack on comments made by Flamingo Land’s chief executive labelling members of boat clubs “scruffy”.

READ MORE: MSP delivers 'record number of objections' to Lomond Banks proposals

It was reported last week that Gordon Gibb made the disparaging remark in an email sent to MSP Jackie Baillie in 2017.

Mr Miller declined to apologise to anyone who was offended by the comments.

He said: “What Gordon said was based on recent [at the time] media reports which said that some of the boats in the River Leven were ‘manky’ and should be removed.

“He wasn’t saying anything about any one boat club in particular, and we’ve had some really good interactions with a number of them. He was simply saying what had already been in the local press at that point.”

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In response, local MSP Jackie Baillie said: “Mr Gibb’s comments were dismissive of the role that the clubs play in the local community. Simply blaming the comments on media reports is shirking responsibility for what he said.

“The chief executive of a company trying to integrate its development into the community should have done his homework.”

“Indeed, their partner in the development, Scottish Enterprise, would have told them how wrong Mr Gibb was if he had bothered to ask. The community is still waiting to hear his apology.”