Case studies of EIA in practice - Introduction to Environmental Impact Assessment - page 281

facilities were built to take skiers to the higher slopes in winter, and also to carry walkers
in other times of the year. However, the industry has been vulnerable to climate/weather
trends and to the quality of the infrastructure. In 1993 the Cairngorm Chairlift Company
published a Cairngorm Ski Area Development Plan designed to upgrade facilities, to give
better access to reliable snow-holding in the area, to reduce vulnerability to adverse
weather conditions, to improve the quality of visitor experience and to improve economic
viability, whilst ensuring that all relevant environmental considerations are taken fully
into account. The Cairngorm Funicular Railway was a key element in the plan.
The Cairngorm Funicular is the country's highest and fastest mountain railway. It is
approximately 2 km in length and takes visitors in 8 minutes from the existing chairlift
station/car park base at Coire Cas (610 m) to the Ptarmigan top station (1100m). It
comprises two carriages (or trains of carriages) running on a single-line railway track
between two terminal points. The carriages, which start at opposite ends of the track, are
connected by a hauling rope. As one carriage descends the track, the other travels
upwards and they pass each other at a short length of double track midway. The track is
carried on an elevated structure, a minimum of 1 m and a maximum of 6 m above ground
level. The final 250 m runs in a “cut and cover” tunneL The development has also
included a major remodelling of the existing chairlift base station, and replacement of the
existing top station with a new development, which includes catering facilities for about
250 persons, and a new interpretative centre, including various displays and an outdoor
viewing terrace. The previous chairlift and towers have been removed as part of the
development. It was anticipated that the railway would carry approximately 300,000
visitors p.a., with two-thirds in the non-skiing months. This would represent a three- to
four-fold increase over 1990s numbers reaching the top station by the chairlift, and a
doubling of numbers from the early 1970s.
9.6.3 The EIA and planning process
The original planning application for the Funicular Railway was submitted in 1994, with
an ES (Land Use Consultants 1994). Revised proposals and a supplementary ES were
submitted in early 1995. The scheme was very controversial, with much opposition.
Particular concerns focused on the potential impact of improved visitor access to the
sensitive environment of the summit plateau, which is recognized as a European
candidate Special Area of Conservation and an SPA. As a condition of the planning
approval, it was necessary for the developer to satisfy Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH)
(the statutory body responsible for nature conservation in Scotland) that a visitor
management plan (VMP) and other mitigation measures would be put in place that would
avoid adverse impacts on the summit plateau.
The planning application was approved by the Highland Council (the consenting
authority) in 1996. This was subject to a Section 50 (now Section 75) planning agreement
to create, in partnership with the SNH and in agreement with the developer/ authority, a
regime for visitor and environmental monitoring and management. Amended designs for
the station buildings were approved in 1999, and construction work finally began in
August 1999. The railway opened in December 2001, following the approval of the
proposed VMP by SNH.