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Cable cars for gully





Grantown Grammar Rugby team get a pep talk from John Masterson during the half-time break in their match against Millburn Academy in March 1997. Old photographs can be sent by post to the Strathspey & Badenoch Herald, 44 High Street, Grantown, PH26 3EH.
Grantown Grammar Rugby team get a pep talk from John Masterson during the half-time break in their match against Millburn Academy in March 1997. Old photographs can be sent by post to the Strathspey & Badenoch Herald, 44 High Street, Grantown, PH26 3EH.

Cable cars for Jean’s Gully?

SCOTLAND’S first mountain top cable railway could be built in Badenoch to take skiers to a new snowfield development.

The half-mile long funicular railway is included in a £1.5 million plan, which Highland Regional Council planners were yesterday recommended to give the green light.

Mr Rudi Prochazka and the Drumochter Ski Development Co, of 26 High Street, Kingussie, want to provide facilities at Jean’s Gully, four miles south of Dalwhinnie.

The scheme includes a new A9 access north of the Tayside-Highland region boundary, leading directly to a car park with space for 300 vehicles and 24 coaches.

There would be the bottom station for the funicular railway, which would carry 700 skiers an hour into the ski area, but would only operate in the winter.

Five tows would ultimately be developed in Jean’s Gully giving uplift facilities for a total of 1500 skiers.

Roadside level buildings would include a garage and maintenance building and lower railway station, incorporating a shelter and ticket office.

At the top there would be railway station, toilets, shelter and refreshment area, incorporated into one simple structure, planners were told in a report.

Even subject to yesterday’s approval, the go-ahead for the scheme now rests with the owner of the land.

This scheme along with one approved earlier this year by the Dalwhinnie Corries Group, lie within the same estate and the owner has stated that only one development will be allowed to proceed.

Valley joins in the Race Against Time

WHEN the world ran for Africa, the Spey Valley walked, cycled, seam, played and ran right along with it – to the tune of more than £2,000.

Kingussie topped the league with their special Fit for Fun afternoon at the local high school, which has generated £1,400 to day.

The most successful individual event was the Lap of Africa over a course following the shape of the continent around the streets of Kingussie.

The lap, which was walked, run, cycled and probably a few other things too, raised over £800.

A four-sport event, including shinty, football, hockey and rugby, raise £500; the local snooker club potted £280 for the charity.

Nurses and patients at St. Vincent’s home were out on the streets collecting and gathered over £150 while young Lindsay Dallas swam the freezing waters of the River Gynack, for £25, a group of young Highwaymen collected £56 from passing motorists and a raffle raised £20.

Event organisers Bobby and Shirley Nield and Ken Deans were delighted with the response form all age groups of the local community as well as Newtonmore and Aviemore from where a number of people travelled.

In Aviemore an official warm up and 10km run raised around £675.

Ski scheme on slippery slope

CHAIRLIFT company hopes of a summer start to the first stage of a £2.5 million development plan for the Cairngorm ski slopes appear to have received a set-back this week.

And it seems likely that with 91 objections to the proposals, the Scottish Secretary Mr Malcolm Rifkind, may decide to put the proposals under the microscope again with a public inquiry.

The Cairngorm Chairlift Co had hoped to erect seven snow fences in Coire an’tSneachda in time for the 1986-87 ski season.

But regional planners ere being told on Wednesday that because the site is of special scientific interest, the issue would have to be referred to the Scottish Secretary before permission could be granted.

And because there are a number of unresolved points in the long-term development plan, it was being suggested that a top level meeting should be held with interested parties.

From it, regional officials hoped an amended Local Plan could be submitted by planners, taking account of the chairlift company’s proposals – possibly after the summer.

Regional planners have welcomed the company’s initiative in producing a development plan. But they add: "There are a number of points that have not been fully resolved in the development plan and require further discussion so that the document can be amended."

A major item is access from the Coire car park to Lurcher’s Gully snowfield, which is proposed by ski tows.

But the planners’ report says it is not clear how substantial erosion will be avoided when snow cover is light on the lower slopes nor how access bill be maintained when there is no snow.

Four challenging for sun strokes

FOUR Spey Valley golfers are now in contention for a place in the final of the Scottish Amicable match play championship, which will be held later this year at Vilamoura on the Portuguese Algarve.

They are James Macadie and Donald Campbell of Newtonmore Golf Club and the Grantown duo of Mr A. Mitchell and Mr S. Harrower.

The Boat of Garten players are also in contention. They are Mr I. Riach and Mr A. MacKay.

Their intended journey to Vilamoura commenced recently when they won their club qualifying round to become their club team in one of the most popular club events in the UK.

Before taking their expenses-paid trip to Portugal, they will be required to play up to six rounds of 4-ball knock-out match play against local club teams in this part of the country.

However, providing they are successful again in this second stage of the championship, the location will then switch dramatically to Vilamoura where, together with 15 successful club teams from other areas of the UK, they will contest the final four rounds of the Scottish Amicable under the climatic and golfing conditions normally reserved for the top events.


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