Cairngorm funicular repairs approved by park authority

Repairs to the Cairngorm funicular railway have been approved by the Cairngorms National Park Authority.

The UK's highest railway has been closed since September 2018 due to structural problems.

The Scottish government must approve the repairs including the cost, which could run to an estimated £10m.

The railway connects a base station with a restaurant and a ski area 1,097m (3,599ft) up Cairn Gorm mountain near Aviemore.

The park authority's planning committee gave its approval at it first live-streamed public meeting. It was held online due to lockdown restrictions.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), which owns the railway, said it was pleased to gain the planning permission.

A spokesman said: "We do need to be clear, however, that the final decision on whether to proceed with these works will depend on the outcomes of a detailed options appraisal and business case for Cairngorm Mountain.

"Progress with these aspects has been affected by Covid-19, but we hope to be ready to put recommendations to the board of HIE and the Scottish government in the summer."

Nick Kempe, of campaign group Parkwatch Scotland, said CNPA was "sadly undermining its own authority" by allowing HIE to push ahead with its plans for the funicular, and wider snowsports area, before the results of public consultation on the proposals were known.

He said: "On the plus side, the planning committee strengthened officers' recommendations by recording that, should the repairs go ahead, the park will take enforcement action if HIE fail to fully restore the natural environment as promised."