Petition launched against closure of Adret chairlift
Lift company Méribel Alpina’s plans to remove the Adret chairlift have met with opposition from chalet owners and hoteliers in the resort.
The fast four-man chairlift is due to be dismantled in 2016 and re-erected elsewhere in the valley because of low use. However, many property owners in the upper part of the resort are against the plans because the Adret chairlift allows them to avoid the main Chaudanne lift area. A petition against the chairlift’s removal has been launched by Hotel Adray Télébar owner, Fabrice Bonnet, and the resort hoteliers are due to meet next week to discuss a joint action against the proposal.
Méribel Alpina says it has decided to move the chairlift because its use is declining and is likely to decrease further once the new Saulire Express gondola lift will be completed next winter.
Sarah Neuville, marketing and communications manager for Méribel Alpina, said: “Our commitment to (ecological standard) ISO 14OO1, leads us to constantly work to reduce the impact of our lifts, particularly visual. This means fewer lifts, which are faster, more comfortable and, above all, well situated so as to free up the mountain landscape.
“We will not simply remove the Adret, but reassemble as a replacement to the Cherferie draglift. This will improve links with the Belleville valley and open up a new part of the St Martin de Belleville ski area.”
Méribel Alpina says the money saved will go towards the cost of other improvements including snow cannons on the Pic and Grand Duc runs. The company’s major investment in the new Saulire Express gondola will be combined with improvements to the Bourbon Busset blue run which descends to the Chaudanne. Improvements to the Rond point area are also planned to enhance the flow of skiers, including a minor lift link to the Rhodos mid-station which will facilitate access to the Altiport beginner ski area.
Sarah Neuville said: “the dismantling of the Adret high-speed chairlift is part of a global plan to develop the lifts and pistes, and not simply a removal. Our one objective is to continually improve conditions for our skiers through greater convenience and accessibility, while limiting the extension of our lift system to preserve the landscape.”
The town council has voted to approve the plans. However, Fabrice Bonnet, owner of the Adray Télébar Hotel, has launched a petition in opposition. He said: “The difference between our point of view and the lift company, is that we would like to see lifts without queues that run at 50% occupancy, and the lift company prefers lifts that run at 100% occupancy but with queues. We would rather see lots of little lifts everywhere than just two main routes, the Saulire and Tougnete.”
Yéti Hotel owner, Sophie St Guillhem, said that the town council had failed to consult those people who will be affected. She said: “It is a very useful chairlift. Lots of people use it to ski over to Courchevel and without it the Chaudanne would become more crowded.”
Lucie Collins, director of luxury private chalet operator Alp Leisure, said: “It would affect our clients massively and put more pressure on the Chaudanne. It seems madness to remove it, especially as the chairlift was upgraded only recently.”
A petition against the removal of the chairlift is available to sign at the Adray Télébar Hotel, the butchers shop and Sport 2000 shop at le Plateau and Sherpa supermarket at 1600 in Méribel.
