Alton Towers, the Staffordshire-based theme park, has announced it will close on quieter midweek days for the first time in its history, following a significant drop in visitor numbers after last year's Smiler rollercoaster crash. The park, which is set to open for the new season in March, will remain shut on days when attendance is historically low.
The decision comes after the June 2015 accident, in which the £18 million Smiler ride collided with a stationary cart, causing serious injuries to 16 people. Two women, Leah Washington, 18, and Vicky Balch, 20, both required leg amputations. Their boyfriends, Joe Pugh, 18, and Daniel Thorpe, 28, along with another victim, also suffered severe leg injuries.
An Alton Towers spokesman said the move would allow the park to focus on busier days. The park also cut 190 jobs last year in the aftermath of the crash. However, more than 1,200 temporary staff will be recruited for the new season.
Paul Williams, head of business at Staffordshire University, described the closure plan as a sensible business decision, noting that similar practices are common in other service organisations. He expressed confidence that visitors would return to the resort this year.
New attractions for 2016 include a rollercoaster restaurant, where food will loop-the-loop before being served, and a second ride that remains under wraps until next week.
