On Sunday 26th I asked them this question:
"Winterhighland are stating that THEIR webcam was unlawfully removed from Service by Cairngorm Mountain Ltd / Natural Retreats on Friday 24th November 2017.
Anyone care to explain why you did this? [
www.winterhighland.info]
These are incredibly useful both to see the snow cover and to assess whether it is safe enough to go onto the mountains.
With many thanks
Simon Flory"
This is the reply I got from their Guest Services person:
"Hello Simon,
We understand the concern that has been expressed about the removal of the Winter Highland webcam from the exterior of the Scottish Ski Club hut at CairnGorm Mountain. We would like to highlight that we had discussions with the Scottish Ski Club before its removal, and sought to consult with Winter Highland also. This particular webcam did not link in with the rest of the live camera feeds at CairnGorm Mountain. We fully recognise that the webcams are consulted frequently by snowsports enthusiasts to help plan their trips to CairnGorm Mountain, as they provide live updates of conditions at the resort. Our aim now will be to replace the webcam within the next week with a new one that feeds in to the rest of our systems, so that we can provide a live, accurate picture of conditions at all times on the Mountain. The relaunch of our CairnGorm Mountain App in anticipation of the winter season, will then give users full visibility of the main runs on the mountain in one easy to access location. In addition to the app, all live feeds from our webcams can be viewed at [
www.cairngormmountain.org].
Many thanks
Susan
Susan Swinden
Guest Services
E:
s.swinden@naturalretreats.com
D: 01479 861261
Cairngorm Ski Area, Aviemore, PH22 1RB
www.cairngormmountain.org "
My reply to them is as follows:
"Hello Susan
Firstly, from your reply you clearly DO NOT even begin to understand the concern about the damage you have done to the Winter Highland systems.
THEIR webcams looked through a window of private hut belonging to the Scottish ski club.
It isn’t your hut. You are not the Scottish ski club and you are not Winter Highland. You certainly have no business breaking into someone’s else private space and damaging their equipment.
The fact that you want to “own” all the views of the mountain and all its webtraffic is not a justification for what you have done.
You have no business trying to control what views other people broadcast of the mountain – even if, perhaps, their views might show activity which you want to remain hidden.
THEIR webcams looked at the snow/non-snow cover on the mountain and provided accurate weather data.
They also provided information which is exceedingly valuable to other people who do not ski and who are now less and less likely to spend cash in the specific business which you guys are still running for now.
The issue is not what you purport to see as your narrow business interests – it is a much wider issue which affects areas and businesses far bigger and far wider than your own ski-slopes.
What you need to do is to make a formal apology to the Scottish ski club and Winter Highland, immediately reinstate their cameras and stop trying to flannel people with PR nonsense.
There are enough people boycotting you over this and other matters already. The longer this situation persists; the more and more likely it is that the support for a different ski-resort operator will grow ever louder.
With many thanks
Simon Flory"