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Towers Loving Care

I don't expect much in DF as it is the worst themed area of the park. That wall is too new. It needs more than vines, it needs moss, weathering and maybe some graffiti too. I suppose they could re-theme the area as "Abandoned Ug Land" or "Urbex Land".
 
I would normally be upset that a planned theming element hasn't been put in place but to be honest, I don't think any amount of plastic ivy will make the fence look any better.
 
The fence will look better in time, maybe once it's weathered a little and maybe even has natural plants growing around it.

Part of me hopes though that rita's bulldozed by the time that fence looks good though ;)
 
Call me a cynic but I thought TLC was purely an excuse why so many rides were closed and a reason to say 'oh they are getting maintenance, its all good' so I fully expect it to finish next year with just closures.

Thus allows normal maintenance, some H&S and a bit of paint to be pulled into one great charade. I doubt it will still exist in 12 months time - neither will Hex or Sub Terra or the shuttered kids rides.

You a Cynic.... Never!

Of everything under the TLC banner only Hex has been named that has been a closed attraction. Sub-Terra has been closed since long before TLC and they seem to be very quiet on Driving School (though if memory serves it might mention "refurbishment" on the signs.

The new audio, speakers, Towers Street repaints, Octonauts work, Nemesis re-paint, various park re-paints and monorail station are not closed rides. Before you think i have gone soft these are things that should be happening anyway but fair is fair.
 
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The stuff that's gone on so far is fine. But it's not extensive when you consider that no activities appear to be happening with the closed rides. One of us would have noticed. This doesn't have to be a closed season thing like the building repaints, new pathing or nemesis, they could easily be working on these rides whilst they're closed. That would have given us more confidence that this is actually a real thing and not just a closed rides smokescreen.
 
I was hoping at the very least we would have seen Hex open by now.
they said it would be closed for a year, which means one season, so it probably won't re-open u8ntil the start of the next season. i will miss it when i go to A in just under two weeks (2nd July):(.
 
they said it would be closed for a year, which means one season, so it probably won't re-open u8ntil the start of the next season. i will miss it when i go to A in just under two weeks (2nd July):(.
Well yes I know that, although given the fact it's closed for no reason, and they're doing nothing substantial to the ride, I was expecting it to open this summer when the park picks up in guest numbers.
 
Well yes I know that, although given the fact it's closed for no reason, and they're doing nothing substantial to the ride, I was expecting it to open this summer when the park picks up in guest numbers.
how do you know that it's closed for no reason and that they're not doing anything substantial to it? the reason it's closed is so they can refurbish it, it says on the website and at the entrance to Hex's queue.
 
I am aware there is some work going on with Hex, but not enough that requires the ride to be closed for an entire season, that is merely cost saving.
 
From what I've been told and I've no reason not to believe them, so far everything else that I've been told has been correct. I've been told that work has already been undertaken on Hex including relaying of the floor (which one or room I don't know) and a new projector has been fitted. Hex was down a lot towards the end of the last season and I understand it needs a new gear ring (or what ever you call it) fitted. If this gear ring has now been fitted or still awaiting to be I can't say. I was also under the impression (and from what I can tell, that the possibility of Hex re-opening this summer was only speculation from my informant) that they were hoping to get Hex open for the summer holidays (subject to the new gear ring being fitted).

However a part of me also agrees with you @James that Alton have used this opportunity to close Hex for a whole season as a cost cutting measure. If they do reopen Hex next season, what else would they close in it's place?
 
To be fair, when I visited on a rainy Thursday in April, it was clear that it would be financially silly to have a full ride lineup. Even The Smiler was on 2 trains sending front row only.

But I'm disappointed that not only are they not open for summer (and sorely missed), but they haven't even been touched. I'll take your word for it with Hex, but I know driving school is untouched, probably NST and Charlie too. And the Flume has been closed to be replaced with a fence with SW8 signs nailed to it, not SW8 itself.
 
It was obvious all rides closed as part of TLC would remain closed all season, regardless of gate figures picking up.

On a more positive note, I see new speakers have been added between Spinball and X Sector playing old Towersstreet music. Very nice touch.
 
They're shooting themselves in the foot with all these rides closures. If your a family with children who aren't tall or brave enough to go on the big rides then Drayton Manor has a better range of rides to go on this season. A lot of families are going to see the ride line up and just not bother going this season.
 
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