Interview: HIE CEO Charlotte Wright on why the CairnGorm ski lifts had to go

It’s now a little over a month since the chairlift towers came crashing down in Coire na Ciste in the Cairngorm Mountain ski area, and in that time we’ve heard from various people involved in the ensuing debate. Some, including representatives of the Aviemore Business Association and skiing pressure group Save the Ciste, have argued that the lifts should have been renovated rather than destroyed, helping improve the skier experience on the hill and, by extension, providing a boost to the local economy. In an interview in this slot two weeks ago, however, Adam Gough, a representative for the resort operators, Natural Retreats, claimed that the business case for restoring the lifts had never been made by those who wanted to see them brought back into service. He also said that the decision to remove the lifts was ultimately made by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), owners of the estate in which the ski area is situated. So last week I spoke to Charlotte Wright, the organisation’s CEO, and Keith Bryers, HIE’s head of property and infrastructure. I began by asking if the decision to remove the lifts really did rest with HIE.