Scotland’s first Alpine Coaster will open to the public this weekend after being officially launched at Midlothian Snowsports Centre.
The coaster is the longest in the UK and can reach up to 28 miles per hour, with expectations that it will attract up to 150,000 visitors per year to the attraction.
Local council leader Kelly Parry cut the ribbon to officially open the ride and joked that "it’s a tough job" as she got to be one of the first people to go on it.
The Alpine Coaster opens to the public on Saturday but tickets can be booked online from this morning on the Midlothian council website at a cost of £7 per ride of £19 for a bundle of three.
Cllr Parry admitted it was an adrenaline rush to race down the ride, which is the final part of phase one of the Destination Hillen project to build a year-round, family-orientated, multi-activity leisure attraction to improve and safeguard the future of the Snowsports centre.
It also included the opening of a new freestyle slop, the building of a new A702 junction, additional car parking and widening the access road to allow for public transport drop-offs.
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Phase two details are still being finalised but are expected to include a new reception building, retail space and indoor activity space.
Cllr Parry said afterwards: “It was thrilling – fantastic fun and a real adrenaline rush!
“I’m here today, not just to mark the opening and enjoy the ride, but also with many of the project team who helped make the Alpine Coaster possible. It’s a thank you to everyone’s hard work but also the chance for us to be willing ‘guinea pigs’ so staff can test out procedures around aspects such as getting people onboard safely in a set time frame.
“It’s a tough job, but somebody’s got to do it!
“We want to turn the centre into a national tourist attraction, with visitor numbers for the Alpine Coaster alone expected to exceed 150,000 a year.
“We want it to bring local employment opportunities and direct income to the local economy while profits can be used to help pay for vital council services.
“However, we also need to be mindful of the public purse which is why we are updating our business case and making sure that all the improvements are affordable and realistic. We’ll be updating customers on our decisions just as soon as we can.
“In the meantime, come along and enjoy what’s already on offer – including the Alpine Coaster. It really is the ride of your life!”
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