COUNCILLORS have delivered a stunning rebuke to their own officials over the £30 million 'Lomond Banks' development plan on the shores of Loch Lomond.

Officials at West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC) had recommended that the council give its support to the project, which is a joint application between Iconic Leisure Developments Ltd, part of the Yorkshire-based Flamingo Land organisation, and Scottish Enterprise, the commercial arm of the Scottish Government.

But at a full meeting of WDC on Wednesday night, the authority's elected councillors instead unanimously voiced their opposition to the project.

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.

READ MORE: Public still angry at Lomond Banks plans as almost 300 attend public meeting

The application – which was re-submitted in a revised form earlier this year – seeks permission for a 60-room hotel, along with a distillery, a water park, and more than 100 self-catering lodges.

At Wednesday night's WDC meeting, council leader Jonathan McColl of the SNP tabled a motion asking the council to oppose the plans – a view completely at odds with the one recommended by the authority's officials.

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 public gallery, which was packed with activists who are against the Balloch plans.

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Around 30 people were in the public gallery at the meeting, leaving others stuck outside to await news of the council's decision.

The representation from the council will now be sent to the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority, which will be responsible for deciding on the fate of the application.

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

Argyll and Bute Council has not yet put forward a view on the plans, while a date has yet to be set for a decision fromy the park authority.