Green light for mountain bike trails on Cairngorm Mountain – but only just
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Plans for family mountain biking trails at Cairngorm Mountain have been approved – but only just following a lively discussion.
The green light was given by 9-7 votes at this morning's meeting of the Cairngorms National Park Authority's planning committee.
Willie McKenna, of Aviemore, launched a staunch defence of the plans for the three interlinked zones for biking between the Day Lodge and Mid Station.
They had been criticised by some members for not being appropriate development for an 'iconic' mountain.
There were also concerns that families could get caught out by the harsh climate even in the summertime and they should not be encouraged to cycle on the hill.
An incredulous McKenna shot back that they were being mother hens and that people were not stupid.
The plans include the installation of two conveyor belt uplift systems in the learners area which can also be used by skiers in winter.
Resort managers have been working with Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland (DMBS) in pulling together the plans for the new attraction with tracks geared towards beginners
and intermediate riders.
CNPA planning officer Stephanie Wade said: “This application involves the provision of mountain biking trail facilities at an established tourist facility within the national park and landscape and environmental impacts are acceptable subject to some refinements being agreed.
"Overall, the development is considered to comply with the relevant policies of the Cairngorms National Park Local Development Plan 2021, and there are no material considerations which would warrant the refuse of planning permission.”
Dr Gaener Rodger, CNPA planning committee convener, commented: “I welcome this development at Cairngorm Mountain and am happy to support the recommendation to approve the application. Offering visitors unique experiences on a year-round basis is important to our tourism industry and I think these family mountain bike trails will prove popular.”
Cairngorm Mountain has said it expects the bike trails to attract 10,000 visitors in its first year and 14,000 by the third.
The hybrid planning meeting was plagued by technical problems.
When Badenoch and Strathspey Conservation Group spokeswoman Tessa Jones was finally able to be heard she pointed out that the area proposed for the biking was home to rare wildlife – and that the surveys carried out were wholly inadequate.
She also said that the resort was unable to properly look after the land already in its responsibility.
More on this story and reaction in next week's Strathy.
Plans for mountain biking at Cairngorm Mountain recommended for approval
