Green light for automatic car parking barriers at Cairngorm Mountain
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Car park barriers have been approved for installation at Cairngorm Mountain.
The proposal was one of two planning permissions for the resort granted earlier today by the Cairngorms National Park Authority's planning committee.
There was unanimous approval for automatic barriers at the upper Coire Cas car park.
They had been several objections including claims that they could lead to tailbacks at busy times.
A separate application from the operators of the ski centre for two new tube slides was also approved at the virtual meeting of the CNPA's planning committee.
An existing tube slide at the Coire Cas car park has proved popular with visitors, the resort said, and now two more will be added.
They have gained temporary planning permission from the CNPA's planning committee until November, next year for one 30m beginners slide aimed at toddlers and a longer 52m slide and associated infrastructure.
The two permanent solar powered car park barriers will be erected at the entrance and exit of the upper Coire Cas car park on Cairngorm Mountain.
Resort bosses brought in parking charges - £2 per car - last summer. The fees apply from April to October but not in winter and are in line with rates for parking in the Glenmore corridor.
CNPA graduate planner Robbie Calvert had recommended approval for both applications.
He said: “These are both low impact developments with the barriers being minimalist in design and scale and in the context of the main carpark, existing signage and wider ski infrastructure.
"The visual impact of the tube slides is also considered minimal and the development is of a temporary nature.
"I consider both applications meet with the relevant policies and recommend both for approval.”
Planning committee convener Eleanor Mackintosh said: “Supporting economic growth is extremely important at this time, so long as there are no negative landscape or environmental impacts – and in the scheme of things – these applications are minor.
"The lack of a masterplan for Cairngorm Mountain, while frustrating, is not grounds to refuse these developments.”
A retrospective planning application for the upgrading of an existing track on the Clova Estate in Glen Clova was also approved today.
An application for the 450m track was required as part of an enforcement notice issued previously by the CNPA, with the section of track upslope of the application being subject to an enforcement notice requiring its removal.
The planning papers can be read on the CNPA website
More on the Cairngorm Mountain planning applications in the next edition of the Strathy
