Plans by bosses at the successful Ice Factor climbing wall in Kinlochleven want to branch out into Aviemore. They forecast that the development could bring in 150,000 more visitors and £4.2 million for the local economy per year.

The ambitious proposals lined up on land belonging to the Macdonald Aviemore Highland Resort include a competition standard ice and curling rink, a 300 feet long indoor ski slope and sledging park on real snow, rock and ice climbing walls, an indoor caving facility, and an indoor and outdoor adrenaline course including a tree-top canopy route.

MAHR Ltd revealed yesterday (Tuesday) that a ground lease with the man behind the plans, business enterpreneur, Jamie Smith, had been agreed in prinicple and there were just a few small details now to iron out.

A resort spokesman said: "The AHR board commissioned a report from Montague Evans and having received that are proposing to enter a ground lease agreement with Mr Smith subject to agreeing final terms.

"MAHR will not be the operators of this business."

As many as 40 full-time jobs and many more seasonal posts would be created by 'Ice Factor Aviemore', which could open as early as summer next year.

Mr Smith has already said the new facility will be more than two-and-a-half times the size of the company's present popular centre in Lochaber. He could not be contacted yesterday (Tuesday) as the "Strathy" went to press.

Describing his vision last month, the businessman - who recently won the emerging director of the year prize at the Institute of Directors in Glasgow - said he wanted to bring "a world-class family adventure centre" to the strath.

He said then: "Aviemore, Badenoch and Strathspey benefit from one of the best natural environments in the world. This is allied with a vibrant village predicated on tourism and adventure sports.

"We want to create something that when the weather is bad outside, there is a place in Aviemore where families can go to enjoy a great pick 'n' mix of activities."

Ice Factor in Kinlochleven opened in December, 2003 and is home to the world's biggest indoor ice wall and the UK's highest articulated rock wall.

However, community leaders behind plans for an Aviemore Sports Centre are vowing to press ahead with plans for their own multi-disciplined sports centre and ice rink facility in the area.

They have claimed that the much heralded MAHR plans for a new rink turned out to be "yet another damp squib".

Members of the steering group were amongst those that attended the community consultation on the second phase £80 million redevelopment of the resort on Thursday.

They said they were left disappointed by the relatively small ice pad in AHR's indicative plans which they said did not have the linear capacity to support a single sheet of curling ice, or be large enough for ice hockey or skating competition.

Yvonne Birnie, chairperson of the ASC-SG, said the proposed ice facilities as shown were "not fit for purpose" as far as the needs of the community are concerned.

She said: "If Aviemore Highland Resort is serious about building bridges with the local community, then a serious gesture is required - perhaps making available five acres of land on which the community could build the much needed facility would be such a gesture. "MAHR are trying to maximise the area of land set aside for leisure and are not taking the community needs into consideration." Aviemore Sports Centre Project steering group has been meeting since October last year and after research and many meetings now want to develop plans for an international size ice rink; four indoor tennis courts and a multi-sports centre to be sited within walking distance of Aviemore's main street.

Mrs Birnie said: "The group feels that this is the way forward to provide the community with the much needed and deserved indoor sporting facilities.

"It will also go a long way to providing extra jobs, many extra bed nights and providing visitors with a quality experience when they visit the area."

She described meetings with Cairngorm National Park Authority, local MP Danny Alexander, local MSP Fergus Ewing, sportscotland, landowners, Tennis Scotland as all being "very positive".

Updating finance bids, she said: "The group is waiting to hear from the Highland Council regarding their application for discretionary funding and have had a positive response from The Big Lottery for investing in communities.

"Other applications for funding are in the process of being completed and once these are in place then we shall ask the local community to attend a meeting to air their views on our plans."

A spokesman for MAHR said that there appeared to be some confusion on behalf of the ASC-SG group over the planning process, however.

The exhibition had only shown indicative plans and Mr Smith's plans were on their land but it was for him to deliver them.

He said: "If Mrs Birnie has an idea and the means to develop it she should like Mr Smith call AHR's Gordon Fraser who will be happy to discuss her ideas. AHR want to take on board ideas and proposals which fit the overall scheme if they are viable."

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