Cairngorm chairlift campaign group welcomes talks

A campaign group has welcome the opportunity to meet with the new operators at CairnGorm Mountain to press the need to reinstate two redundant chairlifts.

The group are urging Natural Retreats to invest in getting the Coire na Ciste and West Wall chairlifts running in Coire na Ciste at the ski resort more than 10 years after being mothballed.

The Ciste side of the hill – which is home to the only black run at CairnGorm Mountain and two excellent gullies – is currently only served by the West Wall Poma.

The Poma in recent seasons has been prone to frequent breakdowns, meaning that often a large part of the ski area is out of bounds, much to the annoyance of experienced slope-goers.

The situation also raises safety concerns over the welfare of skiers and snowboarders should they be left stranded in the Ciste if the lift stops working in the worst of the winter weather.

Save the Ciste campaigner Alan Brattey has welcomed the chance to meet with the operators, and hailed the move as constructive.

He believes that everyone will be winners if the chairs return to action.

He said: "The Ciste Gully was complete to below the boardwalk from Christmas through until after the season was finished.

"However, the West Wall Poma only ran on a total of 14 days over the course of the entire season. It’s little wonder that ski numbers were so poor."

The Ciste chair was mothballed in March, 2002, and the West Wall chair ceased operating two years later.

There are now well over 3,000 signatories on the group's online petition calling for the improved access.

Campaigning had been put on ice whilst the Save the Ciste group awaited the new operator taking over and the announcement of their intentions.

Natural Retreats’ five-year plan contains proposals to redevelop the Day Lodge and associated catering and retail provision, and to create a new all-weather artificial slope for beginners.

Mr Brattey said: "While their plans are to be welcomed, so far as they go, they do nothing to address the inadequacies of the uplift infrastructure on the hill.

"In particular, the chronic lack of mid-mountain uplift capacity which was brought about by the removal of the White Lady and Fiachaill T-bars, the Aonach Poma as well as the mothballing of the Coire na Ciste and West Wall chairlifts."

He also said that chairlift sheaves were taken down for inspection two years ago and then left lying in the heather.

Mr Ewan Kearney, chief operating officer for Natural Retreats, said they would be happy to meet face to face with Save the Ciste representatives in the near future.

He commented: "We have said all along we are open to all ideas to improve the summer and winter visitor experience, but they need to make financial sense in terms of the investment required."

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