It’s an age-old conundrum raising age-old debates – the need to maximise local employment opportunities versus the commitment to preserve areas of outstanding natural beauty.

So here we go again with revised plans by Flamingo Land for their proposed development at the Balloch gateway to Loch Lomond, and revised appeals for the public to support that part of Scotland’s environment which enjoys global recognition for its scenic and recreational attractions.

First time round, I was considerably unimpressed with Flamingo Land’s ventures elsewhere in the UK, and mildly horrified at the thought of similar in a natural beauty spot.

This time, I’m prepared to believe that the plans have been modified and are unlikely to result in an impoverished man’s Disneyland springing up on our doorstep.

But – and it’s a very large but – whilst 127 lodges, a hotel, a water pool, monorail and all the rest will undoubtedly provide short-term jobs, the people who use such facilities will be not day trippers but holidaymakers.

On the plus side, you can see why that might well put a few bob in the coffers of hard pressed retailers. And business generally.

Yet it will also expand the kind of activities which drive local residents completely up the wall.

In the recent hot weather, places like Luss were all but overwhelmed and left to cope with the usual debris which some casual visitors seem incapable of bagging up and taking home or binning.

Worse still, in my book, the water sports brigade took precisely zero notice of bylaws prohibiting activity too close the shore line.

You could argue that they were unaware of the restrictions in place, but you don’t have to have an Advanced Higher in local laws to recognise that operating high pitched craft or skis up close and personal to the shore kills off any prospect of the tranquillity for which the area was famed.

Loch Lomond is big enough and long and wide enough for everyone to enjoy, provided they don’t treat it like a water-based holiday camp for the hyper active. For myself, I’m still to be persuaded a Flamingo Land-style development would prevent just that.