A REVAMPED ski centre is locked in a legal battle over one of its new attractions – family-friendly toboggan runs.
The new "tubing runs" were to be a focal point at Hillend, in the Pentland Hills on the outskirts of Edinburgh, after the Scottish Government helped plough nearly £1 million into the centre in the hope of making it a regular destination for skiers.
It was hoped the four 160ft (50m) tubing runs would attract school parties, helping to introduce a younger generation to the centre.
Instead, the new runs at the centre, which should have seen people riding down the hill on inflated inner tubes, has not had a single customer since the rest of the overhauled dry slopes were unveiled last November.
The problem with the runs have been caused by drainage issues, with Midlothian Council and a contractor, and the design engineer. Both insist the other party is to blame and is refusing to foot the bill to rectify the issue.
There is no immediate resolution expected in the row, and spiralling legal costs are a concern, as well as further work being required to fix the problem.
A spokesman for the council, which owns and runs the centre, said: "There have been drainage issues with the tubing runs which we're currently resolving with the design engineer and the contractor. However, this is a small part of the £600,000 investment we made last year and we're still open for bookings on our new extended loop and two new nursery slopes as well as an enhanced existing slope.
"When the refurbishment is complete, customers can enjoy four new tubing runs which will put the snowsports centre on the map as one of the best facilities in Europe."
The centre is the only one in Scotland that can host Olympic-standard giant slalom events and offers the second-longest descent in Europe.
Hillend was threatened with closure in 2010 after the council said it could no longer afford to fund it, but it was saved by donations from Sportscotland and the Scottish Government.
Sportscotland, the national agency for sport, awarded £533,000 for the snow sport centre's revamp and the Scottish Government then approved the release of £400,000 to pay for snow sport lessons for children.
The facility is an official international training centre and around 30 Olympians, including Scots stars Alain Baxter and Finlay Mickel, have made use of the artificial slopes over the years.
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