A conservation group has called for broadcaster Kirsty Young and her husband’s plans to build a holiday lodge on an island in Loch Lomond to be rejected.

The Woodland Trust Scotland said the redevelopment would see ancient woodland “gone forever”.

The former Desert Island Discs presenter and her husband, Nick Jones, filed plans to build the short-stay holiday rental on Inchconnachan last year - though the details of the application were only made public in January.

Helensburgh Advertiser: A computer generated image of the proposed holiday lodge. A computer generated image of the proposed holiday lodge.

Ms Young, 53, and Mr Jones, 58, have attracted criticism in some quarters for the suggestion their plans could see a colony of wallabies, first brought to Inchconnachan after the Second World War, removed from the island.

On Wednesday the Woodland Trust Scotland wrote to planners to say the project should be rejected because of the impact it could have on native ancient woodland on the island.

George Anderson, of the trust, said: “Ancient woodland is an irreplaceable habitat. Once lost, it is gone forever.

“If ancient woodland isn’t safe here, then something is far wrong. We call on the planning authority to reject this application.”

Planning documents said the couple’s aim "is to create a world-class and beautiful place for everybody to enjoy”.

The trust, in its submission, says it isconcerned about the direct loss of ancient woodland, the creation of boardwalks within the ancient woodland area, the noise and light pollution from the build, and the threat to the long-term retention of surrounding trees.

Under the current plans, 35 trees will be cut down, including four individually surveyed trees.

The trust said it was “generally supportive of sensitive ancient woodland management” but added that development can lead to long-term changes, and majorly adverse impacts would occur as a result of trees being chopped down for the build.

If proposals submitted to Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park are approved, a two-storey, three-bedroom timber lodge will be built on the island, alongside a boathouse, jetty, and other infrastructure to help run it as a visitor destination.

Helensburgh Advertiser: A computer generated image of the proposed boathouse. A computer generated image of the proposed boathouse.

As well as concerns about damage to the woodland, there had been fears that wallabies, introduced onto the island in the 1940s, would be removed.

Almost 60,000 people to sign an online petition calling for the animals to be saved.

The wallabies were introduced to the island in the 1950s by Fiona, Countess of Arran, a member of the Colquhoun family who formerly owned the island, and who still own much of the land around Luss and the west shore of Loch Lomond to this day.

Under the plans, island's existing lodge and boathouse, both of which are in a state of disrepair, would be knocked down.

Planning documents said the island “is a beautiful and sensitive place, well protected for its historic woodlands, habitat and natural beauty but it is in a declining poor condition and under growing pressure from an increasing number of visitors, anti-social behaviour and grazing herbivores”.

The couple bought the island in January.