Despite opposition, the funicular railway finally came into operation on 24th December 2001.

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The MCofS has consistently campaigned against the proposed funicular railway on Cairn Gorm, believing that it would be economically unviable, environmentally destructive, and would reduce the range and quality of visitor experiences in the area around Glenmore and the Northern Corries. The MCofS believe that, if it is built, the proposed funicular could lead to a net loss of tourism in Strathspey, and that it is being justified with political dogma rather than sound tourism planning.

Throughout this case we have kept our members informed and worked alongside other organisations opposing the funicular. During this time there have been over 11,000 letters of objection, compared to only about 200 letters in support of the scheme.

In order to gain planning permission for the funicular the Cairngorm Chairlift Company (CCC), along with various public bodies, signed a Section 50 Planning Agreement, which sets out the detailed requirements for its construction and operation. Clause 10 of this agreement sets out the conditions whereby the funicular would have to be removed from the mountain in the event of its economic failure. In our view its failure would be a certainty, considering the high level of visitor numbers it would have to achieve to stay afloat, and given the total lack of financial and strategic justification that is being made available by the CCC and their public sector backers Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

The MCofS will continue to campaign for the construction work to be stopped and sensible alternatives considered. If, however, the funicular is built we shall campaign for its removal. If it is built we are confident that it will continue to be controversial and this will undermine its chances of being successful.

The funicular is a classic case of government agency staff wanting the fun of working in the private sector with the safety of working in the public sector. This facility, if ever opened, would compete at our expense with other visitor attractions in the area, and would in our view undermine 2,500 jobs in the local area. We do not see how such a white elephant will ever bring a single visitor across the Scottish border that would not otherwise have come to Scotland. We are, however, aware of a number of people that have already been put off visiting Scotland because of the way in which we are seen to be treating our finest mountain areas.

The so-called "Closed System" whereby funicular passengers would not be allowed outside of the top station has led to the comparison with a prison. Newspaper headlines have called it the "Barlinnie of the Highlands". This comparison is very damaging to the scheme, and rightfully so, because paying guests would be trapped in a building with plenty of opportunity to spend money, but no way of experiencing the amazing surrounding countryside that they would no doubt be told about in the ubiquitous audio-visual presentation. In fact, if they can see anything of the real world outside it would either be the inside of a cloud and/or the devastated remains of the construction site and degraded ski area. The tourism experience that is being planned is of so little interest or appeal, and the tourism attraction market in that area so competitive, that we believe it would be beaten hands down by its private sector competition.

If the funicular was to open then struggle (think about the Dome and Hampden) and be threatened with closure, then the pressure on SNH to maintain the Closed System would be immense. Imagine the CCC going out of business, 105 people about to lose their jobs and local politicians openly criticising SNH for not caring about their plight. Are SNH going to stick to their guns and maintain their commitment to protecting the European designated sites, or are they going to cave in to the pressure and come up with some kind of fudge arrangement that allows the doors to be opened up? The MCofS believes that if it is built on the basis of there being a Closed System, and work has already started with the Section 50 in place, then it must be adhered to rigidly. Even if it means failure, job losses and demolition, so be it. The parties to the Section 50 agreement have all signed legally binding documents committing themselves to the Closed System. If they have done that as part of a conspiracy to get the doors open at a later stage when the facility has been built, then any subsequent job losses and demolition are entirely their responsibility.

It looks now as if everybody could get what nobody wants. Even the scheme's supporters did not want this particular version of the funicular with planning conditions that could ultimately lead to financial ruin and an end to skiing on Cairn Gorm. Political dogma has locked a number of high ranking officials into producing a funicular at all costs. Senior members of HIE, Highland Council and the Scottish Executive are willing to gamble £15M on this facility even though it is likely to create jobs that could quickly disappear, cause irreparable damage to the mountain and reduce the opportunity of ever seeing a truly sustainable facility. They are hoping they will have retired on a handsome pension by the time the demolition team come home to roost.

We are aware that Highland Councillors have been threatened by some of their Strathspey colleagues that if they do not vote for the funicular they will never get anything passed in their areas. We also know that senior staff members at HIE believe the funicular is fatally flawed and doomed to failure, but dare not speak out for fear of losing their jobs. To give an idea of how much the funicular is despised within the ranks of the government organisations that are supporting this scheme, we are receiving enormous support from staff within each of the different agencies.

There is a very real possibility that if the funicular is built the UK taxpayer will end up paying for it 4 times over. Firstly to build it, and secondly to re-pay the £2.7M of EU grant money which has to be paid back when any one of their strict conditions is broken. Thirdly, when the facility begins to struggle and show signs of failing there would be the inevitable attempt to "make it work by throwing more public money at it" phase. Finally, when Clause 10 is invoked, there would be the demolition phase, which for the fourth and final time would be funded by us, the UK taxpayers!

Not surprisingly there are a number of walkers, climbers, skiers and others who feel let down and ignored by the planning system. Many of these people are now choosing to boycott the Aviemore area and the Cairngorm Chairlift Company. Nobody is organising this protest, it is just happening as a result of a system that has ignored the vast majority of people who have an opinion on the subject. It is also a reaction to the people who have deliberately twisted our arguments to make it appear like a simple case of jobs versus birds.

It need not have been like this. There are several other options for re-developing the Cairn Gorm ski area and for providing year round tourism opportunities in the area. The options that we would like to see considered would be compatible with the National Park status that the Cairngorms are likely to have by 2002, and the World Heritage Site status, which we believe the Cairngorms should have, but which the funicular would end all hopes of. The international funds and employment opportunities that this designation would have attracted are far greater than any fun park joy ride could ever generate.

The campaign to stop the funicular is very much alive, and despite the granting of planning permission and the delivery of funds, the MCofS is fighting hard and does not intend to give in. The CCC and HIE face many more hurdles over the coming months, and there will be opportunities to make your views known along the way.

Anyone who is disgusted at the plans for a funicular railway on Cairn Gorm and the way in which this case has been handled should write to their MP, MSP and MEP.

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