New chairlift at Glenshee
A new four-man chairlift is to be installed at the Glenshee Ski Centre after planning permission was granted by the Cairngorms National Park Authority.
The new chairlift will replace the ski centre’s existing old T-bar tow after proposals were approved by the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA)’s planning committee on Friday, October 6 at the Boat of Garten in Strathspey. The new chairlift will be able to take three times as many skiers and snowboarders to the top of the Glenshee slopes, with an anticipated capacity of up to 1,800 people per hour.
Eleaner Mackintosh, convener of the CNPA’s planning committee, said: “Glenshee is one of the park’s key attractions and is very important to the local economy. I fully support this development and welcome Glenshee Ltd’s investment in the ski centre to ensure its on-going viability and I am sure the new chairlift will prove very popular with skiers and snowboarders.”
Katherine Donnachie, planning officer for the CNPA, added: “The development complies with policies in relation to economic development as well as sports and recreation.”
This comes after a number of organisations initially objected to the proposals for a new chairlift in Glenshee due to a lack of information.
SEPA put forward an objetion saying the lack of information left questions on the impact the development would have on wetlands and peat in the national park. However, after further discussions with the CNPA, SEPA agreed the designs did not compromise ground water ecosystems or peat at the site.
Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) Glenshee Ski Centre. Pic: Angus Findlay had also objected to the proposals saying the lack of information did not show the impact the proposed chairlift would have on the Cairngorms Massif Special Protection Area and on golden eagles in the park. However, SNH withdrew their objection after further information was provided by the CNPA which showed the development is unlikely to have an impact on golden eagles.
The report presented to the CNPA planning committee, which included representatives from Perth and Kinross Council, said: “This proposal to enhance the facilities at the Glenshee Ski Centre is welcomed, with some public support for the proposal as evidence in the supporting letters received from users of the centre and the [Braemar] community council, landscape and environmental impacts are considered to be acceptable with opportunities for enhancement.”
It will be open to the public in 2019.