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2019: General Discussion

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But imagine if they were in charge of the actual restoration... knowing Merlin, either a) nothing would actually have changed after the “refurbishment”, b) it would end up bright green (or another equally obnoxious colour), or c) it would never open its doors ever again :p
 
Merlin can't even build a bloody roof on Swarm's church let alone reconstruct a Gothic cathedral. You'd be better off hoping for a tarpaulin stretched over it
 
Andrew said:
Merlin can't even build a bloody roof on Swarm's church let alone reconstruct a Gothic cathedral. You'd be better off hoping for a tarpaulin stretched over it
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No but they are planning on restoring the Banqueting Hall's window. Which can only be good news

https://www.towerstimes.co.uk/blog/2019/04/25/alton-towers-to-restore-banqueting-hall-window/
http://publicaccess.staffsmoorlands.gov.uk/portal/servlets/ApplicationSearchServlet?PKID=129023

As somebody said on the TT forum: "don't Towers usually restore something heritage related before applying for a big new investment? Silly wishful thinking but it's possible"
 
This window restoration has been going on for years though. There was a big saga and the original windows went missing during the restoration or something. They got them back and are now completing it... or at least I think that's how the story went

Merlin don't have anything to do with the restorations really, they just pay for it.
 
TakeYourMedicine said:
This window restoration has been going on for years though. There was a big saga and the original windows went missing during the restoration or something. They got them back and are now completing it... or at least I think that's how the story went

Merlin don't have anything to do with the restorations really, they just pay for it.
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Well according to that article the original restoration company went bust and the panes of glass went into storage.

I wouldn't expect Merlin to have anything to do with the restoration - they're an amusement park company - not a stained glass restoration company! :p But credit to them for instigating the restoration. I'm sure there's an ulterior motive other than just making it look nice but at least they're doing it.
 
Steve74 said:
Well according to that article the original restoration company went bust and the panes of glass went into storage.

I wouldn't expect Merlin to have anything to do with the restoration - they're an amusement park company - not a stained glass restoration company! But credit to them for instigating the restoration. I'm sure there's an ulterior motive other than just making it look nice but at least they're doing it.
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PR and making the local council happy

Sent from my Swift 2 Plus using Tapatalk
 
Yes, if you have a quick skim through the documents, it appears that the original company (Pugin, Hardman & Powell) that was doing the restoration is 'no longer trading' and so a new company (Williams & Byrne) will now be completing the restoration and re-installation of the glass.

The application is calling for an amendment to the original application which allows them further time to complete the work with the date given as 31st of December 2022 (see the attachment: 03224_01 Banqueting Hall window amended cover letter 05.04.19). This just gives them more time to get the work completed to a high standard given the delay caused by the change over to a new company. So, I wouldn't expect to see anything actually turning up at Towers any time soon, and you can pretty much rule out the thought that this may have anything directly to do with garnering favour for a planning application for a new ride.

Just the same plans as begun around 2010 but now with an amended finish date for the work.

It appears that TowersTimes missed the amended date and have incorrectly given the completion date as 2021 in their article.
 
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I think the Towers could be used for all sorts of events - weddings, conferences, parties etc - there is a lot of potential there for revenue
 
Steve74 said:
I wouldn't expect Merlin to have anything to do with the restoration - they're an amusement park company - not a stained glass restoration company! :p But credit to them for instigating the restoration. I'm sure there's an ulterior motive other than just making it look nice but at least they're doing it.
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Sorry I meant that bit in relation to Andrew's post that they cant even put up Swarm's roof.

The reason the park do these restorations is because they're required to in return for their planning applications being approved, it's a good deal for everyone. Often this is the case with developing a historic area or building. But I meant the windows may have originally been instigated by a previous planning application, since they were supposed to be done years back

The restorations are planned by English Heritage I think, who nominate the architects and trades to carry them out too? Probably
 
Currently, either Oblivion, TH13TEEN, The Smiler and Wicker Man are down or the Alton Towers app is broken. I took a screenshot but I can't work out how to upload it.
 
At Thorpe Park, Colossus, Flying Fish, Stealth, Saw, The Swarm, Detonator, Vortex, Tidal Wave and Samurai are down.
Looking out my window, the weather looks quite nice but I am not in Staffordshire or Surrey
 
Winds of over 40mph forecast around Alton until at least 6pm. Most of those rides will stay shut all day by the looks of it.
 
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