>Maybe they could compliment the bikes with a ski centre?<
Comparing Innerleithen with other 'resorts' in Europe is an exercise in pure fantasy – 99.99% of Alpine resorts have existing lift infrastructure, vertical elevation and winter sports. IL has none of these…
>Has anyone got any ideas how much a lift would cost?<
£2m for starters and >£12m in todays money to realise the full scheme:
http://www.scottish-enterprise.com/sedotcom_home/about-us/se-whatwedo/news-se-about-us-details.htm?articleid=248596&pagetitle=Innerleithen%20bike%20park%20report%20now%20available%20::%20Scottish%20Enterprise%20%20news
Page 24 makes interesting reading.
Three points really:
1. Where are the PRIVATE SECTOR champions of this scheme?
2. Is public sector funding likely to be forthcoming?
3. Is venture capital funding likely to be forthcoming? This needs point 2 to happen
IMO the public sector cannot and will not take a punt on this, we no longer have fantasists at places like the Bank of Scotland and the public sector certainly can't afford to do a Ratho and bail it out when it all goes pear shaped