Cairngorm Chairlift Company Visitor Management Plan

We have reproduced the Executive Summary of the VMP here for reference.

Executive Summary May 2000

1. The purpose of the Visitor Management Plan (VMP) is to protect the integrity of the adjacent areas of which have been designated under the European Habitats and Birds Directives, from the potential impacts of non-skiing visitors as a direct consequence of the funicular development.
2. The availability of new information has been taken into account in refining the draft VMP to create the final VMP:
   • The 1997/8 visitor surveys: the Cairngorms Mountain Recreation Survey (97/98) and Visitor Use of the Cairngorm-Ben Macdui Area (97/98).
   • The Rothiemurchus and Glenmore Working Group Draft Management Strategy (R&G DMS).
3. The objectives of this final VMP are unchanged from the Draft. The final VMP establishes the anticipated changes in visitor levels and patterns of use as a consequence of the funicular "Closed system" of management, and sets out the framework for monitoring these anticipated changes and their possible impacts.

Key provisions of the VMP

A range of management provisions have been established to assist with ensuring the funicular development has no adverse impacts on the integrity of adjacent EU sites. These include:

4. Car Parking
   • A reviewable flat rate car parking charge will be levied at the Coire Cas car park during the summer season, i.e. May to November inclusive.
   • Car park proceeds will be devoted to site management and the implementation of the VMP, including footpath repair, monitoring and car park management.
   • Dedicated car parking for mountain users will be provided in the lower car park at Coire Cas. The separation of sightseers and mountain users will assist in concentrating the former within the Ski Area.
   • Any further traffic management measures will be dependent on final decisions made in the R&G DMS and the outcome of the annual monitoring programme.
   • Car park charges escalating with the length of stay and the Clearway order as prescribed in the Draft VMP are included but proposed as reserve powers.
5. Funicular
   • The implementation of a "Closed system" prevents non-skiing visitors from leaving the Ptarmigan throughout the year and is consistent with European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) conditions.
   • Skiing visitors have egress in suitable snow conditions but are confined to the Ski Area by the conditions of sale for skiing tickets.
   • Emergency services and public agents have egress at all times.
6. Footpaths
   • Public access on foot from Coire Cas car park will be maintained. Walkers will be encouraged to use existing footpaths.
   • Alternative walking routes from Glenmore will be provided.
   • A network of paths within the Ski Area will be provided.
7. Monitoring
   • The monitoring scheme will be designed to provide essential input to decisions on the adequacy of management in protecting the adjacent European designated sites, namely the Cairngorms Special Protection Area (SPA) and the Cairngorms Candidate Special Area of Conservation (cSAC).
   • Monitoring will consider all topics already subject to Baseline Surveys, such as visitor numbers, behaviour and impacts, birds, habitats, soils, and geomorphology.
   • Monitoring will be supervised by a Monitoring Group concerned with agreeing methods and indicators of environmental quality. A reporting officer will make recommendations on management to The Highland Council (THC) and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) as part of an Annual Report.