Parliament debated the future of the proposed Flamingo Land site in Balloch last week.

In a members’ debate brought forward by West Scotland MSP Ross Greer, politicians criticised the now withdrawn plans.

In his speech, Mr Greer said: "For many people, it was the details in the developer’s own environmental impact assessment that drove home just how unacceptable the plans were.

"The assessment warned of damage to ancient woodland, pollution of standing and running water, red squirrel and otter fatalities and a host of other environmental concerns."

Members noted their support for the campaigners who opposed the plans and suggested a stronger role for the local community should be prioritised.

Jackie Baillie, Dumbarton's MSP, said: "I am pleased to have had the opportunity to publicly thank the Save Loch Lomond campaign and all the other local residents and community groups who urged Flamingo Land and Scottish Enterprise to rethink their proposals.

"I believe that local voices should be leading the way on such a significant development in our community and it is ultimately the responsibility of the Scottish Government to ensure that these voices are heard. Local people know what is best for our local economy and environment.

Ms Baillie called on the Scottish Government to instruct Scottish Enterprise to cancel their exclusivity agreement with Flamingo Land to allow for discussions to begin about a community buy out of the land.

Mairi Gougeon, Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment, said: "Members will appreciate that it is not appropriate for me to comment on an individual application."

However, she said: "The Planning (Scotland) Act 2019 will bring about better, more meaningful and earlier engagement with local people across Scotland."

"More widely, I note that encouraging community ownership is a priority for the Scottish Government.

"Communities have more opportunities than they have ever had to take control of their futures."

A Scottish Enterprise spokesman said: “Exclusivity agreements are legally binding contracts which are commonplace in the property industry to allow potential buyers time to carry out relevant investigations before completing any sale.

“The Exclusivity Agreement in the Lomond Banks case was considered appropriate because development of the brownfield site is heavily constrained by ecology, flooding, and possible contamination from previous industrial uses.

“Public consultation has been carried out in the local community throughout the process, and helped shape a number of changes to the plans which were finally submitted. This approach would continue to form the basis of any proposals for the land at Lomond Banks.

“While Scottish Enterprise would always give appropriate consideration to any proposal, no proposal was received from the community when the land was advertised in 2016.

A spokesperson for Flamingo Land said: "The local political class are very good at saying what they don’t want but unable to tell us what they do want. 
"The protesting local politicians are primarily only interested in preserving their small majorities at the next election.
"Unfortunately, whipping-up a negative campaign against the development has given them the political capital that they crave.
"The genuine social and economic benefits to local people have been sacrificed in favour of political posturing and phoney PR."