Inverness proposal

A NEW artificial ski slope could open in Inverness in the Scottish Highlands. No particular site has yet been identified but members of the public are being surveyed for suggestions. More information can be found at: www.ibsc.org.uk

Swindon revival

LONG standing plans for an indoor snow centre in Swindon have been saved by new investor.

The indoor snow centre project was initially announced nearly four years ago but the plans stalled.

A private capital funding company Seven Capital Investments is reported to have agreed in principle to move the development plans forward although a signed deal has yet to been finalised.

Exeter snowfall

EXETER University in Devon had 48 tonnes of real snow delivered from Milton Keynes Snozone nearly 200 miles away!

The snow was used for the ‘Chill Hill’ event in January when 30 skiers and boarders from six universities performed freestyle tricks. The event helped raise money for Disability Snowsport UK.

Rossendale upgrade

ROSSENDALE ski centre in Lancashire is to get a £1.1 million upgrade to make it an Olympic training centre for freestyle skiers and boarders.

A 4.5m (14 feet) high tower will be erected at the top of the main slope and at the base there will be ski jumps and a big air bag.

Ski Rossendale was closed down after funding cuts in 2010 but re-opened in 2011 and is now run as a social enterprise.

Two centres lost

WYCOMBE Summit, which was one of Europe’s largest artificial ski slopes until it closed due to financial difficulties in 2003, is to be redeveloped for housing.

Plans to reopen the centre in Buckinghamshire were thwarted by a fire in 2005 and in 2007 the Snowdome Group, which runs Europe’s longest surviving indoor snow centre at Tamworth, announced plans to build an indoor snow centre on the site and reopen the 300m long dry slope which remained on site, but these plans also failed to materialise.

In Yeovil, another former ski Centre has now been bulldozed to the ground. Demolition was delayed after a colony of bats, protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, moved in after skiers and boarders left in the 90s.

Help for homeless

THE Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead, collected unwanted snow wear and donated it to the homeless in an effort to keep those who had to spend winter on the streets a bit warmer. All contributions were distributed by the charity Street Souls.

Categories: Club & Slope News