Scottish Lib Dems respond to Cairngorm Funicular report

Responding to the report by the Scottish Parliament’s Public Audit Committee on the Cairngorm Funicular, which raises concerns about whether the cost to monitor and repair the funicular could outweigh the benefits to the local and national economy, Scottish Liberal Democrat economy spokesperson and deputy convener of the committee Jamie Greene MSP said:  

“Throughout this process, my fellow committee members and I engaged with a range of organisations and individuals about the Cairngorm Funicular and there are clearly concerns about how reliant the whole resort is on this one lift.

“Design issues with the funicular have always been an issue and when it was offline for so long the effect was devastating on visitor numbers and our valued mountain and winter sports offering.  Thankfully, snow conditions have improved this year but there is so much reliance on this single lift, it's a hammer blow when it breaks down.

“This latest report brings into stark focus the cost of maintaining the infrastructure, the lack of resilience or alternative to get to the mountain and the clear lack of strategy for the resort moving forward from the Scottish Government

“We need to see value for public money in keeping the lift alive, but we also need targeted investment which allows the region to prosper.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch Andrew Baxter said:

“The concerns raised by the Committee will resonate strongly with many people across Badenoch and Strathspey. For years, local communities have voiced scepticism about the long-term economic benefits of the funicular, particularly when set against the spiralling costs of repair, monitoring and ongoing public subsidy.

“That scepticism has only been deepened by a lack of transparency and robust governance from HIE. The Committee’s report is clear that meaningful cultural change is required, and I sincerely hope HIE takes that message to heart. Decisions about major public investments must be open and accountable — and not just short-term fixes.”