| |
If
you want to comment or give your personal opinion about
this funicular, its controversy or its paradox, do not hesitate
to leave a message in the new
Forum
|
|
A
controversial project !
All along these
five years I was regularly in touch with Scottish news to be
informed of the progress of this project.
The less I can say is that project was one of the most controversial
funicular projects I have ever known. I may admit that it is
certainly the first one!
Funiculars are one of the most ecological public transportation
systems and in Scotland the most fierce opponents were…
the environmentalist!
The
main reproach was the fear of the destruction of the fragile
Cairngorm landscape due to the constructions and to the flood
of new visitors on the protected mountain. Providing easy access
should increase the number of visitors to the top of the mountain.
This mass of visitors is needed to make the railway viable.
The second main reproach was that the construction of the funicular
would be paid by public organizations, mainly Highlands and
Islands Enterprise (HIE), that means by Scottish people themselves.
There have been many protests on the internet and in the media.
That was the first time I saw such anger, even hate against
a funicular!
As a convinced environmentalist and a funicular fan, I may admit
that I was shacked in my faith!
The new visitor center was supposed to include new restaurants
and tourist facilities at all three stations would also be renewed
or replaced, and enlarged to handle many more visitors than
before.
During the construction of the funicular and the new visitor
center, I also read some critical articles where it was mentioned
such words "example of environmental sabotage", "hideous
construction", " this devastation is taking place
high on Cairn Gorm", etc
That is why I decided to take the first opportunity to visit
the new CairnGorm funicular and to see with my eyes the subject
of this diabolic environmentalist insult.
This opportunity came on 27 May 2002.
|
|
