COUNCILLORS have voted to oppose plans for a more than £30 million development on the banks of Loch Lomond.

Officers at West Dunbartonshire Council had recommended support was given to the project, which is a joint application between Yorkshire-based Flamingo Land and Scottish Enterprise, the commercial arm of the Scottish Government.

The project involved the building of a 60-bed apartment hotel, a brewery, a water park and more than 100 self-catering lodges.

The plans had drawn the ire of the local community, with nearly 300 people attending a meeting on Monday to voice their disapproval at the plans, which was also attended by politicians from across the political spectrum.

At last night's meeting, the leader of the council, SNP member Jonathon McColl, moved a motion to completely revert the proposed response put forward by council officers.

Other members added small amendments to the motion, which were accepted by the leader.

No councillors expressed support for the plans.

Despite some initial confusion, the news of the council's opposition to the plans raised a cheer from the impassioned crowd in the public gallery, which was packed with activists who are against the Balloch plans.

Around 30 people were in the public gallery at the meeting, leaving others stuck outside to await the decision.

The representation from the council will now be sent to the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, who are the planning authority in the matter and are tasked with making the final decision.

As a a neighbouring authority, West Dunbartonshire Council is a statutory consultee in the project, and as such had to be consulted.

A date has not yet been set for the decision by the park authority.

For more on the meeting, pick up a copy of the Reporter next week.