Highlands MSP keeps pressure on over Cairngorm Mountain probe
Serious remedies are needed at Cairngorm Mountain, a Highlands and Islands MSP has said.
Edward Mountain (Scottish Conservatives) has called on the Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy and Tourism, Fergus Ewing, to address the serious failings at the attraction following the publication of an Audit Scotland report on Thursday.
Mr Mountain has been a vocal campaigner for a long-term and sustainable business plan for Cairngorm Mountain.
Last year, the MSP made a written request to a Scottish Parliament’s Public Audit and Post-Legislative Scrutiny (PAPLS) Committee to investigate the use of public money at the resort.
Mr Mountain has cited several findings in the public money watchdog's 32 page report "as areas of deep concern".
He said these include:
* 'there were contrasting views on CML’s repair responsibilities in relation to the funicular railway infrastructure';
* 'CML did not meet the minimum spending requirement in any of the four years of NAIL’s ownership'; and
* 'HIE has had to step in to take over operations at Cairngorm Mountain twice in the space of ten years. This raises serious questions about the sustainability of the business operating under the current model'.
Mr Mountain commented: “I have always campaigned for the holistic use of Cairngorm Mountain which would ensure that all groups are included.
"The Auditor General’s report has made it clear that the current business model for the mountain doesn’t work.
"As the report stated, HIE have had to step in twice in ten years and it also appears the public agency did not understand its own lease with Cairngorm Mountain Limited.
"If this level of incompetence took place in private practice then it would lead to questions of professional misconduct.
"Serious remedies are now needed and Fergus Ewing must take action as soon as possible.”
Mr Mountain is a qualified surveyor with over 20 years of professional experience of property management.
See the full report at https://www.audit-scotland.gov.uk/uploads/docs/report/2020/nr_200618_highlands_islands_enterprise.pdf
Claims that Audit Scotland report is a white-wash