I am gearing up towards the date when the planning application is reported to being going into the hands of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park committee, later this month. Then I will present this petition to show the weight of public feeling, though I understand this will have no bearing on the decision, but I feel it is nonetheless important the committee knows that so many people are taking an interest in this and are fundamentally opposed to the principle of the sell off in the first place. I will also present my own objections on the grounds of this being an unsuitable project for land that has been common lands for so long and that the riverside is too sensitive an area to be in the hands of one developer no matter how well meaning. If the planning application in principle goes ahead there is little we can do, except put more pressure on the Government, who so far have never issued any words on this that I can see, despite this being of national importance and interest. We will not know, planning wise, what to prepare until we see finally what the proposals are, but given this is only planning in principle, and that should it pass the sale is then concluded, we are in a very difficult and heavily stacked situation indeed. All I can do personally apart from this is continue to raise awareness of our heritage, in this continuing onslaught of our modern times. I fear, truly, that one day Loch Lomond will never be regarded as anything other than an amusement, devoid of any heritage, its history buried in high powered motor-craft, low quality 'attractions' and commercial interests. Already most of the south west side of Loch Lomond is nothing more than a venture capitalists dream, ripe for buying over at any time. To this end, the balancing of a future that looks out of step with our past, I have re-ignited my work as a promoter of our heritage, and re-started publishing articles on a new website I have created to tell the old stories, push forward the carefully researched histories and to give our area that historical gravitas and respect that so far, few seem willing to recognise. How often I have heard tourists lamenting that they came for our heritage and found none. Instead they found a place that could be the suburb of any city anywhere in the world, were it not for the scenery to remind them this was in fact Scotland. It is not petty nationalism that drives me here, before that accusation is made, it is that I have watched as over the years our Loch's heritage and true nature have been shoved to the side and indeed buried in commercialism, modernism and a thorough lack of education on its very rich and wonderful ancient past. So, in this lull, this calm before decision-making finally goes into gear, can I suggest that one of your free-time pursuits is having a look at this website and discover some of the little-told histories of our area? You will, I hope, like me, be astonished that little of this finds itself into our media or on the streets of our loch-side townships, but at least you will know some of it, and be able to say, you are proud to stand up for our loch, and our heritage, and here is why. http://ancientlennox.co.uk/