HIE defends its funicular failure role

Agency issues Cairngorm snow sports pledge

The head of Highlands and Island Enterprise (HIE) business development Susan Smith moved yesterday to answer criticisms by local businesses and politicians of HIE’s role in the row over the closure of the mountain’s funicular railway for the duration due to safety concerns.

HIE owns CairnGorm, and leases it to leisure company Natural Retreats, to be operated by CairnGorm Mountain Ltd.

Aviemore Business Association (ABA) has called for the Scottish

“Led the wider Strathspey economy to the edge of disaster”

Government to form a cross-party committee to “investigate the incompetence of HIE”.

ABA secretary Alan Brattey said: “It’s long past time for HIE’s chief executive to be summoned to Edinburgh to answer for the fact that HIE’s failed strategy has led the Cairngorm Mountain business and the wider Strathspey economy to the edge of disaster.”

Ms Smith said: “We’re working night and day to make sure we’re doing the right thing at the right time to give the community confidence that there will be snow sports at CairnGorm mountain this year.

“We understand that there’s huge concern and huge frustration around the funicular, but the reality is it came about of the blue. We had to respond when the engineers said to us we should take action to investigate further. Safety is of paramount importance.

“We take part in many parliamentary discussions and debates and we would welcome an opportunity to do that if that was the desired way forward.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “HIE is supporting local businesses affected by the closure, including providing oneto-one advice and access to loan funding.”

Highlands & Islands MSP Rhoda Grant said: “I’m writing to Natural Retreats about how it is going to operate pricing given that it appears to be a lack of clarity over season tickets, early-bird tickets, a reduced-price ticket, or itison vouchers purchased for the funicular railway.”

Ewan Kearney, chief operating officer at CairnGorm Mountain Ltd said: “We are more than happy to speak to Rhoda Grant and answer her queries.”

‘WORKING DAY AND NIGHT’: HIE head of business development Susan Smith said it was working hard to ensure snow sports at CairnGorm

The funicular railway has been closed for repairs