Alps indoor piste gives 365 days’ ski

Ski Line, a first for the Alps, has been approved by the local development committee despite environmental groups’ protests.

The 2,100m resort is a favourite of British and French skiers as its terrain is so varied and the €62million plan will offer 365 days of skiing a year.

All-year skiing is at 3,500m on Grande Motte glacier, which has lost 30% of its ski area due to global warming. Mayor Jean-Christophe Vitale said he wanted to “protect jobs bearing in mind climatic changes”.

Ecology groups have attacked the plan, with Moun­tain Wilder­ness calling it “absurd” and “denying the mountain its own space on its own land”.

Building on the 50m wide Ski Line is not due to start until 2019. It has no side wall on one side in winter, to offer extra themed ski areas such as luge or slalom and this wall is closed in summer to keep the snow, giving an area for all-year skiing.