Uplift to be installed again at Scotland's most famous ski run
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A ski tow will be installed once again at Scotland's most famous ski slope.
However, the lift by the White Lady at Cairngorm Mountain will only run up a short section of the red run
Members of the Cairngorms National Park Authority's planning committee approved the application by the Scottish Ski Club at their latest meeting.
Planning officer Nina Caudrey told the committee: "The application seeks permission for the installation of two below ground concrete tow anchor points, with above ground tow drive unit machinery mounted on top, one unit located near the existing ski club building and the other approximately 215 m uphill to the south east.
"A steel cable tow line with handles for skiers would be suspended above ground between the two drive units.
"Due to the sloping terrain, the ground would be re-profiled around the anchor points to minimise visibility of the concrete anchor blocks...
"The existing boardwalk providing access to and from the existing ski club building and slope would be reconfigured to accommodate the lower anchor point, while retaining access to the building and slope.
"The steel cable tow line – and tow attachments – running between the machinery to move skiers uphill would be removed when not in use during times of no snow cover.
"The above ground tow machinery, while removeable, would remain in situ year-round unless needed elsewhere on the mountain."
There was only the briefest of debates over the application which was unanimously approved.
Planning committee member Deirdre Falconer asked: "Just for clarity, is this a public use tow or is this for ski club to use?"
Ms Caudrey responded: "Apparently if you have got a ski ticket for Cairngorm Mountain and you have the relevant experience to be able to use one of these ski tows you would also be able to use it.
"It won’t be restricted to just the ski club."
Fellow committee member Peter Argyle commented: "I think this application has been dealt with perfectly sensibly. I am very happy to support it."
Aviemore Community Council had given its backing to the application.
Watchdog chairman Peter Long stated: "The community council supports this application, on the basis that it is a relatively minor piece of infrastructure which will improve an existing facility."
The T-bar lift was closed in the 2006/07 season after a major accident scare when the one-tonne pulley wheel at the top of the tow was catapulted to the ground during a maintenance run.
No-one was injured in the incident.
A group of UK snowsports fans subsequently launched a fund-raising campaign to repair the White Lady ski lift but the effort did not come to anything.
