MSP questions Flamingo Land jobs claim

Ross Greer said his analysis of the company’s statements showed a steep decline in the number of jobs it has promised to create.

The Green MSP said: “We were promised 300 jobs, then we found out that most of them would be part-time and seasonal, then we’re told it’s 159, and now we’re told it’s 140.

“And if we read the small print in the application we see that over three in four of these jobs would be created anyway if Flamingo Land doesn’t go ahead.”

Mr Greer, an arch-critic of the proposals by the Yorkshire-based company, has been calling for the public to register their objections to the plans via his website.

More than 50,000 objections have been submitted to the national park planning authority, said to be a Scottish record for any planning application.

In relation to the jobs promise at the development, to be called Lomond Banks, Mr Greer said: “Most of them aren’t new jobs at all, they’re just displaced from other, often locally owned, hotels, campsites and bars whose business may suffer as a result of this sprawling developing going ahead.

“This analysis shows what we’ve known from the start, that this has always been about lining the pockets of Flamingo Land’s Yorkshire-based owner, not about supporting the local economy in Balloch.

“The national park’s planning rules repeatedly require there to be an overriding public interest for a development that will damage ancient woodland and protected wildlife to go ahead.

“Flamingo Land have told us again and again that their expected plans to boost the local economy are that overriding interest but that’s just not credible.”

“Scottish Enterprise have agreed to sell the land for this purpose so surely the whole application is on shaky ground now?”

Andy Miller, director of Lomond Banks, said: “As stated previously, the proposal is expected to see an investment of approximately £30 million. We anticipate bringing 80 full time jobs, 50 part-time jobs and up to 70 seasonal posts to the area.

“There will also be hundreds of local jobs created during the construction phase.

“There will be jobs in all levels from management down to shop floor.

“Examples of jobs include anything from accounts staff, operational staff, catering staff, service staff, leisure staff, grounds staff and many more.

“We will not have any zero-hour contracts, and have agreed to sign up to pay the Scottish Living Wage.”