Cairngorm Mountain report is a 'whitewash' claim some Aviemore community leaders
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Some community leaders interviewed by Audit Scotland on the watchdog's probe into the running of Cairngorm Mountain have described the subsequent report as a whitewash.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise has been cleared of any wrong-doing in their choice of a private operator for Cairngorm Mountain by Scotland's public money watchdog.
Wilmslow-based Natural Retreats UK Ltd was appointed in June 2014 on a 25-year lease and made big boasts about their future plans for the ski resort but their operation Cairngorm Mountain Ltd went bust leaving a trail of debt.
The company went into administration in November 2018 – one month after the funicular was closed on safety grounds – and had to be acquired by public agency HIE for £462,000 to safeguard 56 jobs at the resort, and the wider local economy.
Several community representatives who gave their views to the watchdog said that on the whole their input had been ignored in the report published today.
There are just a couple of paragraphs that touch upon this and views from members of the Cairngorm Funicular Response Group in the long awaited 32 page report.
One of the short section states: "There was recognition that HIE realised the importance of stakeholder engagement but also frustration that HIE was not utilising fully the local knowledge and expertise.
"For example, while the group was supportive of the purchase of snow-making equipment for Cairngorm Mountain, some members felt they should have been given the opportunity to feed into what equipment to buy and how best to use it...
"Members believe firmly that local knowledge and expertise should be used more than it has been in the past."
The report also states: "Local businesses and community representatives we spoke to emphasised the importance of the resort in contributing to an economy that is heavily dependent on tourism."
Mike Dearman recently stepped down from his role as the public face of Aviemore and Glenmore Community Trust because he said he was so frustrated with Highlands and Islands Enterprise not engaging meaningfully with the group.
He said: "I'm surprised and disappointed to see the bland nature of this report.
"The two meetings I attended during the process had very mixed viewpoints on many subjects but the clear and unambiguous feeling was frustration with HIE's inability to engage meaningfully over Cairngorm.
"I had hoped that Audit Scotland would give HIE a moment of pause and an opportunity to re-evaluate their approach to community engagement.
"HIE will take this as carte blanche to continue to do whatever they want, hiding behind bureaucracy and consultants and taking unilateral decision which will not heal the divisions in our community.
"Nor will it generate a robust business or bring customers back to Cairngorm."
Alan Brattey, chairman of campaign group Save the Ciste and former Aviemore Business Association leader, said the report did not say very much but he was not surprised by that.
He said: "I'm increasingly convinced that many aspects of the public sector do not serve the public interest.
"Interestingly, the report is clear that HIE had satisfactory monitoring arrangements with respect to the operators compliance with the maintenance terms in the lease.
"However, it also makes it clear that the minimum spend on maintenance that the operator was required to make annually wasn't made in any of the years between 2014-18. That's a bit of a contradiction and anyone walking around the Cas car park and Daylodge can immediately see that little maintenance has been done for years.
"It was also disappointing to read about three Health and Safety Executive improvement notices having been issued but the report contained no details and did not relate these to a lack of maintenance which was very clearly the case.
"They were provided with irrefutable evidence with respect to the non-adherence of the maintenance terms in the lease. I needn't have bothered. It has all been completely ignored and absent from the report.
"I've no doubt that there are others who engaged with Audit Scotland who will feel the same. It's a whitewash."
But an HIE spokesman said the long-term masterplan for Cairngorm will be informed by the views of local businesses, community and sports organisations and the wider public.
He commented: "Public engagement in February and March this year produced more than 1,800 online responses from members of the public and a further 85 from business people. We’re now planning a second round of engagement and aim to publish the masterplan later this year.”
Audit Scotland referred the Strathy to the comments made by Caroline Gardner, the Auditor General for Scotland, published with the report.
She said: "The Covid-19 pandemic increases the uncertainty around the costs and business model required for the mountain in the longer-term. Any future spending decisions need to be informed by the wide range of groups with an interest in the mountain.
"And it's important they should take into account the resort's social and environmental impact alongside its economic benefits."
HIE 'acted appropriately' in appointing private operator at Cairngorm Mountain which later went bust
Probe gives an in-sight into failed Natural Retreats tenure at ski resort
