High ambition as Hillend aims to be major tourist attraction

A MULTI-MILLION-POUND scheme to turn Hillend into Europe's biggest snowsports centre and a major tourist attraction has been unveiled.

Council chiefs want to make the Midlothian Snowsports Centre a "five star" tourist attraction, with two new dry slopes, mountain bike trails and a toboggan run featuring artificial snow.

The £4 million revamp will also see a new visitors' viewing platform created at the top of the slope, which is expected to draw thousands of tourists on its own.

Councillor Jim Muirhead, Midlothian's education and sport leader, said today: "We want it to become a five-star tourism attraction that appeals to both those who are serious about skiing and people who just want a bit of fun.

"We've taken steps to introduce more fun aspects in recent years and we are trying to introduce youngsters to it as well.

"It's not just about skiing - having mountain bike trails and the toboggan run will attract a lot of people to it and help make it a fun venue.

"We want it to be something people will put on their 'tick list' when they're visiting Edinburgh or Midlothian."

The plans will see a "fun" ski slope created to encourage more families to use the facility, and a new dedicated nursery slope for beginners.

The council wants to promote the refurbished facility alongside some of its other main atttractions, including Rosslyn Chapel, Newtongrange Mining Museum and Lasswade's Butterfly and Insect World.

Council chiefs hope to get the majority of the funding from a potential future round of the Scottish Executive's Cities Growth Fund (CGF), starting next year.

It has voted to propose the project to Edinburgh City Council, which will be preparing an investment plan for the region.

And it is also hoping to secure £500,000 from sports lottery funding.

Cllr Muirhead said he was confident the new revived funding bid would be a success, but insisted other options would be considered if it failed.

The project has won enthusiastic approval among tourism and sport leaders. A spokeswoman for VisitScotland said: "

We would welcome any project that would boost tourism in Edinburgh and the Lothians."

A spokeswoman for SportScotland added: "

We are aware of Midlothian's proposals for developing the centre, and there have been discussions between SportScotland and the council regarding these proposals."

Councillor Gordon Mackenzie, the city's finance leader, said he expects to find out later this year if more Cities Growth Fund money would be available.