'Question Time' event for funicular and Cairngorm resort

The community bodies involved in the Cairngorm funicular response group will be giving the public the chance this evening to answer the many questions circulating on the attraction, wider resort and its future.

There have been plenty of developments this past week with administrators appointed last Thursday after operators Cairngorm Mountain Ltd went bust.

The Q&A session at the Peregrine Suite at the Macdonald Aviemore Resort had been arranged prior to that but this will be a chance for residents to get an in-sight into the funicular group's work so far and strategy.

HIE is expected to receive a report by experts into the safety of the £20m mountain railway on December 17 although it is unlikely to be made public immediately.

Aviemore and Glenmore Community Trust, who hope to take community control of the resort in the next two years, will be one of the groups at the meeting.

They will be joined by the Aviemore Business Association, Cairngorm Mountain Trust and Cairngorms Business Partnership.

AGCT spokesman Mike Dearman said: "The recent AGCT AGM was very well attended. We had a constructive discussion about the trust's ambitions. It was clear their was a great deal of interest in the response team and much confusion over the plans in place for this season.

"To address this the community groups involved in the response team have therefore arranged a joint 'Question Time' style event with a panel with representatives from each community body

"We will answer any questions people have and listen to their views."

They have already appealed to people to submit questions in advance.

Mr Dearman said: "We will select the most popular questions and there will be plenty of opportunity for audience participation and supplementary questions."

Mark Tate, CBP chief executive, said: "The community and business representation groups who are part of the funicular response group are inviting the public to an open discussion about their involvement in the group, answer any questions and to listen to views.

"People are welcome just to turn up but it would be a great help though if they would register via Eventbrite before hand so we can attempt to manage the logistics.

"This is a great opportunity for all of our community groups and our community to come together for an open constructive discussion.

"We are grateful to Macdonald Aviemore Resort for making their facilities available free of charge to the community."

On the Question Time panel will be Mike Dearman and Duncan Swarbrick (AGCT); Mike Gale and Gary McLennan (ABA); Lesley McKenna and Euan Baxter (CMT) and Mr Tate.

Keith Taylor will be the host.

Questions can still be submitted in advance by emailing office@visitcairngorms.com or by adding a question to the Eventbrite booking.

The open meeting is this evening from 7pm to 8.30pm.

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