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Cairngorm Mountain needs to be allowed to die.
But but but.... that would be admitting that they ****ed up massively. That cannot be allowed to happen.
I'm sure a couple of elastoplast will hold the concrete plinths together for a few more months.
Fair enough Scotroutes.
As far as I have been able to determine there is nothing unique about Course Cas, hence my absolute willingness to sacrifice it 😁 The environmentalist lobby won their battle against the Lurchers extension and should have been happy with that.
This sort of thing should be a key point. NO development in one area - the pay off is much greater development in another. Rather thanpiecemeal and not fit for purpose
As above - permission for the ski centre on that mountain would not be given now - but we are where we are, so need to make the best of it. Its utterly daft to think of removing all the infrastructure now. Trying to be all things to all folk means no one is happy and nowt works properly. A "you get 100% in this area you get 0% in this area" ( land area or policy area) works. To do 50% in each area makes a mess.
I cannot believe the conflicting interests are really irreconcilable apart from perhaps ultras on each side
Unfortunately they are joined by some of the more elitist of the outdoor “community” who now want to remove all infrastructure past Glenmore, including the current road, so that folk get to experience the long walk in.
Really? *shakes head*
The balance here of course is that Cairngorm area /mountain / call it what you will, should be a strong tourist draw and all the benefits of employment and income which that brings.
Yes there are downsides, particularly environmentally, but the local community benefits need to be balanced in my view.
Aside from if or how the railway was born and ongoing issues, the need for a successful business up there is clear - not the current shambolic line up of oddness who currently absorb huge sums of money and seem to deliver less than many would hope...
Found some figures I was looking for earlier...
At just 5.98 Km2 the Cairngorm Ski Area occupies just 0.13% of the Cairngorms National Park Area. Scottish Natural Heritage classify 1572 Km2 of land in the National Park as Wild Land and 15197Km2 of Scotland as a whole.
Having a mooch at the Scotland ski resorts, I also looked at Cairngorm Mountain.
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Ok. Well, I found it funny. (Coire na Ciste, etc.)
What I noticed was that the railway, which was fixed for £ManyGazzillion is now busted again. "Snagging", apparently. Closed August, no reopen date available.
I'm muse if Balfour Beatty work on any important stuff like dams, bridges, nuclear reactors, etc.
Balfour Beatty are in charge of the M25/A3 junction10 "upgrade" which has included new and upgraded bridges. It has been a complete shambles with bridleways and footpaths closed and rerouted without any consultation. I will bet by the end we find out the cost has rocketed over original budget. They even wanted to build a roundabout and access road for a house building planning application that has already been turned down.
We went in this earlier this year, I had no idea it had just reopened! It was great, sorry to hear it's closed again
I’m muse if Balfour Beatty work on any important stuff like dams, bridges, nuclear reactors, etc.
As far as nuclear goes they (Balfour Kilpatrick) were one of the main contractors for TNPG to build Hunterston B in the 60s/70s. I wasn't aware Balfour Beatty were still a thing as their side has been though several names in the last decade (BB>Workplace Solutions>Engie>Equans)
To get back to the original question: I’m betting that in 2024 they discover more issues and we descend into unusable again.
Well, it looks as though you might have been right....or at the very least the 'fix' is an unestimatable time away.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3geee0e9kxo
Good work all around I'd say.
"The project team also had to contend with severe weather conditions and below-freezing temperatures on the mountain."
Who'd a thunk it! Actually one of the lamest winters for a good while.
Ideally the whole thing wants shutting and the road ending at Lock Morlich. Perfect in so many ways. The walkers gain as the hills are more natural. Same for the cyclists. The skiers won't lose much as the skiing is dying. A few won't be able to see the view but so what? I cannot abide the idea that people come to an area for some natural beauty then screw it by slapping up something man made.
Most folk in Scotland learn skiing at Aviemore, i did 30 years ago, plus you'd be killing a large chunk of Aviemore town and surroundings.
Clusterboorach
Has it now been closed longer than its been open? Clearly the wrong design / solution for that hill
The walkers gain as the hills are more natural
The overwhelming majority of walkers drive up to the Cas car park.
Same for the cyclists
Most of the MTB-ers also drive up to the Cas car park to set off and the roadies cycle up the tarmac road, so both benefit from the existing infrastructure.
Like I said above the whole ski development area takes up a tiny part of the National Park and the Cairngorm Mountains. Anyone who doesn't want to see it has a huge area of land to choose from without it interfering. In fact, you need only walk 5 minutes from the base station and it's already out of sight.
Most folk in Scotland learn skiing at Aviemore
I'm not sure that's still true.
you’d be killing a large chunk of Aviemore town and surroundings.
Meh. Aviemore and area hasn't got any less busy since the funicular shut. I think most folk know that skiing isn't in any way guaranteed and plan their holidays/leisure time accordingly.
Cairngorm have managed to destroy their skier customer base. It used to be that 4 out of every 10 skier says in Scotland we're at Cairngorm. Now it is less than 1 in 10.