A reading of the Audit Scotland reports on HIE in general indicates how desirable subsuming HIE into a national enterprise body might have been.

Ref timescales, the main hope must be that limited repairs will suffice, otherwise due to issues of process, funding, technical and supply lead times (with EU Procurement Directives likely to still be applicable; which can't afford to be breached this time again) there's a realistic possibility of being without a regular solution for two or three seasons or more.

As mentioned above by another, this needs ScotGov intervention - write to our MSPs perhaps?

^ Yip. If they need to repair each support then that means taking the track off and waiting until next summer. Pouring concrete in cold weather is what caused this problem....

At risk of speculating : repair bill could very easily become 4-5 million or more.

[www.haggistrap.co.uk]

There is at least a possibility that the various issues with the Funicular will be long term and ongoing - as it has been described as a developing situation.

A step back at least should be considered in that the ongoing upkeep needs and costs should be lower if the Funicular always operated at low summer speed and half capacity, thus there may well be an economic case for giving up on the Funicular as a high capacity high speed lift and providing the big capacity for winter with modern chairlifts (in either Corrie).

Not only is there the means of providing redundancy in non surface uplift to the top, but it would allow the Funicular carriages to be fitted out to provide a much better visiter experience year round. On the days only the Funicular could run, the numbers are going to be lower anyway and that is becoming more the case with improved forecasting and information.

Could pop the ''frosted' windows out the daft thing and give folk something tae look at.

Perhaps it's time for something radical - lift upgrade (first otherwise it'll get ditched in budget over runs), move down the hill - return of the Glenmore base idea and Funitel access and strip out the train.

Removes some of the road issues and opening up, current base to Glenmore bike trails option and de clutter the hill. Short term capacity issues resolved.

Think BIG.

Think OVER the box.

Tweet Elon Musk that there's a baby robin in distress near the top cafe and next thing you know there'll be a hyperloop train from outside the khazi's near the Mountain Cafe up to the bun que in the Ptarmigan.


Will NR be updating their piste maps for this season?

Give them a few days and they'll be marketing themselves as the premier family backcountry destination in Europe.

"Grab a Starbucks and pizza for your pack (From 10am till 3pm) before roaming the Natural Retreats plateau. Take the kids up and picnic on the exquisite summit of Natural Retreats Ben Macdooooeee TM and keep your eyes peeled for the Natural Retreats Grey man TM. Swim in the pure waters of the Natural Retreats Lock Avonny beach resort TM.

Car park charges apply @£80 an hour. All guests to leave the Natural Retreats plateau by 3pm. All guests to leave the car park by 3:10pm. Surcharge of £150 per child. Surcharge of £170 per picture taken of the Natural Retreats plateau TM and Natural Retreats Ben Macdooooeee TM. Surcharge of £300 per picture taken of the Natural Retreats Grey man. Spaces on the Lock Avonny beach can not be guaranteed. Your car is liable to be damaged by the car park surface. Pre booking (non refundable) @ £500 PP is advised."

I've said it before, but the bruttish government should get one of their money laundering customers tae wash it through the ski resorts investing to 'clean' more. Make wesmunster tell the tramps tae put some of their well dodgy cash back into a society instead of just charging a small percentage and less obvious to the outside world..

Make corruption work!

Sorry but Westminster has got sod all to do in this...its the Scottish Gov who had a chance to disband the enterprise organisations & didn't as there was an outcry from various Scottish business sectors etc...(someone earlier mentioned this)

This is a Scottish problem between the council, the Scot Gov & the Enterprise bodies...


The only other people who have had any big say is the EU due to the funding the funicular got from their funding dept....


---That was not a fall, I intended to do that!---

Whooooosh - I'm just putting forward another source of revenue and a good use for money that's getting washed every second anyway which the few benefit fae.

The Scottish government are knobs too but the corruption up here is loose change tae wits cleaned doon there.. A ski resort would be great place tae clean cash and the dodgy of the dodgy all deal with london though a lot of the washers have been Scottish over the years, "the world is not enough" for some. If the brits used these unexplained wealth laws on their own we'd aw be rich and tax free lol

Some things are above wee heeds....


But, let natural retreats and co make a business out what they have then invest and as HIE own the estate it sits on they can borrow cash against it, if they want public cash directly they walk and let a tourism/sporting body take over and do Alans plan and feck the plants n shit and move up the hill and expand and make it worth a trip

I am with you on that one. HIE are the main cause of this and it comes down to an organisational arrogance and ignorance which is the main feature of their actions.

What will they do now? No dry slope and no train.

Did the dry slope get knocked back?

Planning officers recommended approval but the CNPA planning committee refused planning permission.

Another whoosh makes it a stage 2 rocket...

Pardon the pun but the cracks seem to be appearing in this organisation. Hopefully this shows the frailty of the business plan for both winter and summer. I don't want to see the accounts after this coming winter.

Now hopefully they'll listen to those who have voted with their feet and those who want to help and offer advise (for free).

Chairlifts please to supplement not replace.