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With PP looming will local authorities relax Alton planning restrictions to protect jobs?

The threat of PP is looming on the horizon. They have an enormous budget and far less restrictive planning regulations. They will be able to create huge coasters far higher than anything at Alton. They will also be able to create huge buildings to create immersive dark rides. This must surely be a threat to Alton's gate figures and ultimately Towers ability to survive as Britain's premier theme park.

Will the authorities relax the planning restrictions to enable Alton Towers to compete, protecting jobs and the local economy?

Should they?

What should Alton do if they do relax the planning restrictions and what should they do if they don't?
 
To answer my own thread, I think that any relaxation of the planning regulations will be minor. I think this is short sighted and may cost jobs in the long term.

I believe the planning regulations should be relaxed. Don't get me wrong, I don't want AT to become SFMM. Alton is special, it's unique heritage, history, architecture and scenery make it what it is and I wouldn't want to change that.

But AT needs to be protected in its right to continue as a great theme park. I believe that the planning restrictions should be relaxed, not to destroy the amazing environment but to work with it. Use the natural topography of the valley to give us not just a world class, but a world beating cross valley coaster. Allow a large dark ride in coaster corner (housed to avoid noise). Let them build above tree height within reason, ensuring that protrusions are themed to compliment rather than spoil what is there. If Dollywood can do this so can AT.

Allowing Alton to play to its strengths rather than be restricted by them will see us enjoy a fantastic theme park for decades to come.
 
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Simple answer; no they won't and they don't need to. They also shouldn't, it is important that the history of the surrounding area is respected. Towers have been able to build some fantastic rides with the current restrictions, there's no reason why they can't in the future also.

I don't think Towers will be too badly affected by Pararmount Park anyway.

:)
 
No they won't. It would take Paramount Park at least three decades to reach parity with Towers on the hardware front. The Smiler shows that they can still produce jaw-dropping rides with the restrictions currently in place.
 
With regards planning rules around Towers, stick around for 2015 - we have an excellent Contribute article on the way that will be a valuable tool for looking at future developments!
 
I think height restriction is the problem, i think restriction on imagination in ride design is the problem.
 
I don't think Paramount will do much harm to Alton, they don't need to relax the restrictions. If anything it should push them to improve. Places like Florida and California show that multiple top quality parks can exist close-ish and all thrive. I think the biggest barrier for Alton to compete is access, if they can sort that out, there's no reason why they can't benefit from Paramount.
 
It may be the catalyst for merlin and AT toup their game and invest in park upkeep and good theming
 
It's worth noting how few people from London and the south east have been to Alton Towers...or anywhere north of the Watford Gap for that matter. Alton Towers won't be adversely affected by this Paramount Park if it happens. Thorpe and Chessington however will be severely impacted.
 
The only thing restrictive which should be more lax is building buildings - a dark ride, not above tree height, would do wonders.

Everything else can stay. The council at times try to force the park to do good in their restrictions anyway (such as speeding up spa extension if that was ever gonna be built, and restoration to allow certain attractions).
 
Really Merlin should be worrying about Thorpe park and Chessington with the construction of PP. Thorpe park would REALLY need to up its game. Chessington needing some TLC. Alton should be fine.
It's worth noting how few people from London and the south east have been to Alton Towers...or anywhere north of the Watford Gap for that matter. Alton Towers won't be adversely affected by this Paramount Park if it happens. Thorpe and Chessington however will be severely impacted.
Ahem. I live in the south east and visit AT. As do quite a few southerners. ;)
 
Really Merlin should be worrying about Thorpe park and Chessington with the construction of PP. Thorpe park would REALLY need to up its game. Chessington needing some TLC. Alton should be fine.
Ahem. I live in the south east and visit AT. As do quite a few southerners. ;)

I'm not talking about enthusiasts ;)
 
It's worth noting how few people from London and the south east have been to Alton Towers...or anywhere north of the Watford Gap for that matter. Alton Towers won't be adversely affected by this Paramount Park if it happens. Thorpe and Chessington however will be severely impacted.
Well that's a complete lie. I work in the south (below london), and almost everyone I work with has visited Alton Towers!
 
I think there will be an impact across the uk parks with the opening of PP. the amount of impact will vary across the uk. Thorpe and Chessington are in the on the door step area. and will be hit on the lets go and do something tomorrow visitor, and people that are planning to go down the country to visit the park may chose PP over them.

For AT and merlin north local trade may not really be affected, some local visits may be dropped in favour of trips down to PP. although long distance visitors may decide to skip AT in favour of a trip to PP.
The only true way to know how the dynamics will play out is when it happens.
 
lets face it I live int north. If I want a day out at a theme park Alton towers is the only option (missies wont do Blackpool and flamingo land a lightwater are closer but ewwww) the southners have good parks down south and dint venture north unless they have too. Wont affect AT too much.
I beg that the restrictions wont be lifted. One the surrounding country side and the other restrictions have created better rides at alton
 
It's worth noting how few people from London and the south east have been to Alton Towers...or anywhere north of the Watford Gap for that matter. Alton Towers won't be adversely affected by this Paramount Park if it happens. Thorpe and Chessington however will be severely impacted.

I totally disagree with that, school trips were common place for Alton and coach companies often have a weekly trip from towns during the summer to Alton. Its audience is nationwide. Why would they bother placing TV adverts in the meridian regions if they did not get southern visitors.
 
I think the biggest 'threat' is to the people and business counting on this to happen. I don't think it will happen, or at least not within the timescales being talked about. Look at the Spanish park, construction was due to start in January 2014, with the park due to open next year, but the site still looks like the below! The suggestion is they've been unable to find suitable investors - if they can't get support to build a cheaper park in one of Europe's tourist hot spots, are we confident they'll really be able to do it in the UK?.

138067d1351462622-2015-neuheit-kommt-ein-neuer-paramount-freizeitpark-spanien-2012-10-25143624.jpg
 
I think the biggest 'threat' is to the people and business counting on this to happen. I don't think it will happen, or at least not within the timescales being talked about. Look at the Spanish park, construction was due to start in January 2014, with the park due to open next year, but the site still looks like the below! The suggestion is they've been unable to find suitable investors - if they can't get support to build a cheaper park in one of Europe's tourist hot spots, are we confident they'll really be able to do it in the UK?.

The Spain and UK Paramount parks are not linked at all. They are being built by different people. The only similarity is that they share the Paramount name (i.e. Paramount have given them both a license to use their brands).

London Paramount has investment in place. It is happening!

:)
 
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