DonaldM Wrote:
I'd be keen to understand what is meant by the Cairn Gorm statement re infrastructure.
Cairngorm Mountain Limited has already upgraded its infrastructure with support from HIE.
''As part of the new lease, HIE agreed to invest in enhancing the expected operating life of the existing surface ski tow network affecting all nine main ski-tows, including the WW Poma where we are looking to extend the lift and install a modern top station''
''During the summer of 2014, HIE undertook a tendering exercises to procure new motors and drives, safety panels. safety cabling and tower cabling, haul ropes and to refurbish gearboxes''
''Additionally, checks are being made on the integrity of the concrete ski-tow tower foundations, welds and galvanised thickness on the steel ski-tow towers. Any repairs will be amde as necessary''
''The budget set aside for this extensive programme of works is between £900,000 and £1,000,000, including VAT, and has been undertaken with a view to giving the network at least a further 10 years of life, although in reality, given proper maintenance procedures the operating life is likely to be longer''
''Prior to the start of the current ski season some of the new components were installed but the bulk of the work programme will be undertaken in summer 2015 subject to acceptable weather''
So there you have it. Although details were not included in the press release, Cairn Gorm will benefit from up to £1m of public funding for infrastructure maintenance/upgrading. The press release was just erroneous in saying that the work had already been done when the bulk of it has still to be done.
Kind regards
Olderalan