Mountaineers have welcomed a new deal which has saved a vital forecasting service for at least the next three years.
SportScotland has confirmed that it has reached an agreement to continue investing in the Mountain Weather Information Service (MWIS).
The forecaster had revealed at the weekend that the Scottish Government agency was to withdraw £36,000 in annual funding at the end of the year, which would have meant the end of the service which is widely used by climbers and walkers.
SpotScotland said the new support will cover a “development period” of three years as they plan a long term enhanced service.
Mountaineering Scotland’s chief executive officer, David Gibson, said he was delighted at the news.
He said: “This is a vital and much valued service for everyone who resorts to Scotland’s mountains,
“We had spoken over the weekend to both Geoff (Monk, MWIS lead forecaster) and SportScotland to encourage them to sit down around the table again, and we met with the Scottish Government this week to provide evidence of the value of the MWIS forecasts and to express our concern that a satisfactory solution should be found which safeguards the forecast.”
Green MSP Andy Wightman raised his concerns in the Scottish Parliament with public health minister Aileen Campbell.
He said: “This is a service that has provided trusted detailed forecasting for mountain users for 13 years and SportScotland has funded it since 2007.
“It’s a service that is relied upon by hundreds of thousands of users of Scotland’s mountains every year and safety and enjoyment of those who use our mountains is dependent upon accurate reliable, and above all trusted sources of weather forecasts.”
Mr Monk said his previous statements about the loss of funding at the end of 2016 had been down to a “misunderstanding”.
Geoff Monk, lead forecaster at MWIS, said: “It is great news that we have reached this agreement and I’m pleased sportscotland is to continue investing in MWIS at the same financial level as in previous years.
“There was a misunderstanding about investment beyond 2016 and now we have a resolution to cover the development phase before a sustainable, long-term service is up and running.
Stewart Harris, chief executive of SportScotland said: “SportScotland has consistently maintained that we would guarantee the continuation of a high-quality mountain weather forecasting service and that is precisely what has been delivered.
“I’m delighted that we will continue to work in partnership by investing in MWIS for a minimum period of three years throughout the development phase while we plan for a sustainable and enhanced service for the long-term.”
