Snowsports enthusiasts to protest about ‘mis-management’ of Cairngorm Mountain
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A demonstration has been organised to protest against Highlands and Islands Enterprise’s management of Cairngorm Mountain with a rallying call to ‘bring signs, noise makers, food and friends’.
The organiser, ski school worker Mike Marcus, has admitted it is a step into the unknown but said he was frustrated that no-one was doing anything about things despite, he said, the deep local concern.
He has been busy in recent days delivering flyers in and around hundreds of homes in the Aviemore area to promote the demo to take place at the resort’s Coire Cas car park next Wednesday (April 24) at 6.30pm.
Related article:
Repairs being stepped up on the Cairngorm funicular
He has picked the date specifically to co-incide with the Kinder Scout trespass protest - near his home town - in the Peak District in Derbyshire held on the same day in 1932.
Walkers took action en-masse after long being denied access to open countryside which had been fenced off by wealthy landowners who forbade public passage.
Mr Marcus told the Strathy: “It seems to me that everyone is unhappy with what is happening at Cairngorm Mountain but not actually doing anything about it.
“I do understand why because of the local politics.
“My home town is New Mills which is the place where the Kinder Scout protest started and this led to a massive change in the whole outdoor recreation culture in Britain.
“It seems to me that the mess with the funicular at Cairngorm Mountain is basically stopping people from getting to the Ptarmigan.
“The funicular is a money pit and the more public money that goes into this abyss the more they do not want to remove it and do something else to improve uplift.
“Clearly it has been another awful winter for Cairngorm Mountain but all along there have been fantastic conditions at the Ptarmigan.
“It is the highest area that people can ski or snowboard on in the whole of the UK and that is why Cairngorm is so special as the resort has these snow-secure slopes.
“But there is no-way to get up there for most people unless they walk for half-an-hour and even then the M1 Poma lift is only really suitable for experienced skiers and boarders - and that is when it is in operation.”
On the funicular, Mr Marcus said: “It seems absolutely absurd to me that HIE is throwing good money after bad. HIE has lost all trust locally.
“But there seems like there is some traction forming at the moment and it is the right time to get the public involved - the media are interested, MSPs are interested.
“It only takes a few determined people to get the ball rolling. Universally speaking, everyone in Aviemore hates what is going on with the funicular and blame HIE for the fiasco.
“Aviemore and Glenmore Community Trust is led by residents who have good experience of running successful local businesses and have brought ice skating back to Aviemore as well as being in the process of completing an community asset transfer for the Glenmore Visitor Centre.
“It is clear that HIE needs to go and the community take over the mountain.”
HIE declined to comment to the Strathy.
Resort operators Cairngorm Mountain (Scotland) Ltd referred the Strathy to HIE earlier in the week.
AGCT said it has its own concerns that Cairngorm Mountain could be lost completely if a new path is not taken. It was formed seven years ago, originally for the sole purpose of offering an alternative community led vision for Cairngorm.
Trust director Mike Dearman said: “We remain deeply committed to finding a positive outcome for the ski area which is such a key part of the areas cultural heritage and identity.
“And we remain firmly of the view that ownership by a community body will help turn the tide of decline and provide better value for money for the community, mountain users, and the taxpayer.
“Through the trust's projects at Aviemore Ice Rink, Dalfaber Community Park and Glenmore Visitor Centre we have developed a positive, productive and valued relationship with HIE which we believe has shown the considerable economic and social benefits that real community engagement can bring to all sides.
“We believe that the huge sums being spent on the funicular and subsidy of the operating company are not sustainable in the long term and we are concerned that the present course does not represent value for money and may ultimately lead to complete closure of the facility.
“AGCT remains keen to be a part of a positive solution for Cairngorm and to hold meaningful discussions over possible operating and ownership models for the future, the trust submitted a draft community ownership model to HIE in early 2019 for discussion.”
The flyer states:
On 24th April 1932, workers from nearby cities gathered on the highest summit in England’s Peak District to protest unjust land ownership.
The mass trespass led to the creation of Britain’s national parks and radical changes to countryside access rights.
HIE and its subsidiary Cairngorm Mountain (Scotland) Ltd have mismanaged Britain’s most valuable winter sports resource for too long.
92 years after the Kinder Scout trespass the need rises again. It’s time to for the community to gather and say ENOUGH.
Meet at the Cas car park, 24th April at 6:30pm.
