The annual Les Houches debate - Chamonix news

IN SUMMARY The important players, all of which have (or have had) certain territorial and legislative rights are: * the SEPP (Société d'Équilibre du Plateau du Prarion, represented by the Hottegindres family) * the LHSG (represented by the Balmat family and the Compagnie du Mont Blanc) * Les Houches village * St. Gervais village Territory: The Les Houches ski resort stretches across land belonging to the villages of Les Houches and St. Gervais. The LHSG controls the Prarion lift and the Tramway du Mont Blanc (TMB) and SEPP controls the Bellevue sector and the Maisonneuve chairlift. One issue is that skiers descending from the Prarion lift can access pistes in SEPP territory and SEPP wants to prohibit this. The case between Saint Gervais and LHSG over St. Gervais’s contract with SEPP to run the Prarion – Bellevue - Les Houches resort (except for the Prarion and TMB lifts) goes to trial mid October in Grenoble. September 19th, the Government commissioner recommended the annulment of the June 2007 contract between the St. Gervais village and SEPP to run the resort, effectively deciding in favor of LHSG. While the commissioner’s recommendation is usually an important factor of the court’s decision, the case could still go either way. In either case, the mayor of Les Houches has assured constituents that the Les Houches resort, home to the famous Kandahar world championships, will definitely be operational in some form or other. The only impact of upholding the commissioner’s decision would be an even more convoluted ticket system. There is still a lot of controversy and pessimists maintain the possibility of the resort closing this winter in a standoff. This year, the Mont Blanc Unlimited pass no longer includes the entire Les Houches ski resort (it only includes the Prarion lift and the Tramway du Mont Blanc). It remains to be seen how Les Houches will be ticketed. If you are concerned and would like to express your opinion you can contact the Les Houches mayor’s office: direction@leshouches.com