One of the reasons the project has been so controversial is the operation of a 'closed system' at the Ptarmigan building. A condition of the planning permission was the agreement that a Visitor Management Plan (VMP) would be put in place. The Cairngorms are an extremely fragile environment and the projected increase in visitors to the top of Cairn Gorm alarmed environmentalists. The solution was the introduction of a 'closed system' whereby all non-skiing visitors would not be able to exit the Ptarmigan building. These visitors could use the Ptarmigan facilities but could not venture out onto the mountain. Skiers, however, could use the Ptarmigan to access the many ski runs.

© Pauline Park