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ℹ️ Heads up...
This is a popular topic that is fast moving Guest - before posting, please ensure that you check out the first post in the topic for a quick reminder of guidelines, and importantly a summary of the known facts and information so far. Thanks. - Thread starter Danny
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- People should start working from home wherever possible
- All unnecessary travel stopped
- Pubs, clubs, theatres and other such social venues to be avoided
- Anyone living with someone who has a cough or a temperature to stay at home for 14 days
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2020: General Discussion
SuperMuscleMan
TS Member
They will have blood on their hands indirectlycan this be nominated as best quote for the 2020 awards
RicketyCricket
TS Member
BPB are still open and visitor numbers have been decent. As far as I'm aware they're gonna be open this weekend too?
At least the Merlin staff on zero hour contracts will still be getting paid (as it stands).
At least the Merlin staff on zero hour contracts will still be getting paid (as it stands).
Poopoohead
TS Member
Will parents be allowed to sit next to children on wicker man thirteen spinball etc?
SuperMuscleMan
TS Member
Merlin have decided to open up theme parks and attractions when the government has advised us not to do unnecessary things. Theme parks are high body contact places, are you telling me they will disinfect each harness after it's been touched? This virus can live for 9 days on a hard surface. You could take it home after a day out and kill your gran without knowing.
The company have lost it... It's pure greed... Cinemas, center parcs, Disney, universal studios, primark, etc have all closed! How is this doing anything but look after the money coming in.
It's simple greed, they are also putting staff family at risk and suppliers. Merlin do love the dark, twisted theme though so maybe it's how the business will end.
bluesonichd
TS Member
Feels quite bad for all the staff that work at Merlini Attractions , must be a nightmare go to work, get sick, or thinking they may not have a job soon and hardly any income for an unidentified amount of time to come
They still have bills and rent to pay
They still have bills and rent to pay
MaxPower
TS Member
I never expected anything less from Merlin, i'm surprised people are so shocked. Universal and Disney are able to see the bigger picture, with this being a global pandemic and all, but yet again Merlin have demonstrated just how low they're willing to go in order to make a buck.
Official government advice on preventing the spread of coronavirus states:
Official government advice on preventing the spread of coronavirus states:
bluesonichd
TS Member
You can see them opening. Staff not wanting to work so they sack them.
That’s how they get around not ha I guess to pay staff to stay at home while closed.
That’s how they get around not ha I guess to pay staff to stay at home while closed.
Stevie
TS Member
Wouldn't put it past them. Sort of thing management there would do.
Ryan
TS Member
This just seems really shortsighted.
Ok, they need to be profitable to survive, they've only really just begun to bounce back after a few nightmare years...but opening the park costs a heck of a lot of money, and if they don't get the numbers in, they lose a heck of a lot of cash. And they aren't going to get the numbers. My current workplace is down 90% on footfall. Their losses may be heavily reduced if they don't actually open the gates, surely most of their costs are paying seasonal staff?
The view online seeks to be they're being irresponsible - a disregard for the health and safety of the public seems to be a really REALLY bad attitude to be displaying, for any park, but especially Towers.
It's awful for their staff, but long term one of the region's key employers surviving 2020 is a higher priority. I'm no expert, but this all just feels very wrong.
Ok, they need to be profitable to survive, they've only really just begun to bounce back after a few nightmare years...but opening the park costs a heck of a lot of money, and if they don't get the numbers in, they lose a heck of a lot of cash. And they aren't going to get the numbers. My current workplace is down 90% on footfall. Their losses may be heavily reduced if they don't actually open the gates, surely most of their costs are paying seasonal staff?
The view online seeks to be they're being irresponsible - a disregard for the health and safety of the public seems to be a really REALLY bad attitude to be displaying, for any park, but especially Towers.
It's awful for their staff, but long term one of the region's key employers surviving 2020 is a higher priority. I'm no expert, but this all just feels very wrong.
Thameslink Rail
TS Member
I think Merlin should close their parks however I sympathise with the independent parks because many of them are unsure whether they will survive the outbreak.
RicketyCricket
TS Member
Happy Valley Shanghai reopened today and Shanghai Ocean Park is opening on Friday. That's got to be good news for the industry going forward.
Ryan
TS Member
It's great news for parks in countries where social distancing measures are being reduced. For those where it's only just starting, and a lot less intensely, it suggests a very long period of measures that'll affect them.
If China is now comfortable opening attractions after 2 months of extreme lockdown, how long will shutdowns of venues last here with only a fraction of their commitment to containment?
Of course this is irrelevant as we aren't even closing parks here!
EDIT - I mean my point is irrelevant, not yours
RicketyCricket
TS Member
I think we will be facing stricter measures in the next few weeks, they seem to be slowly building up to a big shutdown.
Either way it's good to know that there is hope 2-3 months down the line.
I know it's not important right now, but it's not great in a theme park sense. Even if towers do go ahead with opening, like you said I think the government will become more strict on it and force leisure places to shut. And by the time we get to chinas position where its getting better, that'll be may/june time. This means the season won't really be up and running until coming on summer. At that point there's only few months until scarefest and then end of the season. It's gonna be a short year where theme park's are concerned
bluesonichd
TS Member
Listening to the news, thinking is if people ignore the advice to saying hone and carry on socialising
If they don’t see a drop in the rate of infection they will bring in mandatory isolation
We will be like France. Unable to leave our houses or face a fine from the police if you do.
If they don’t see a drop in the rate of infection they will bring in mandatory isolation
We will be like France. Unable to leave our houses or face a fine from the police if you do.
Alsty
TS Member
This is where the government needs to get off its arse.
If it wants the public to be social distancing, it should not advise. It should mandate. They should force premises to be closed if that's what they actually want. People are looking for direction and they need to make it unambiguous.
If it wants the public to be social distancing, it should not advise. It should mandate. They should force premises to be closed if that's what they actually want. People are looking for direction and they need to make it unambiguous.
Fact check!
The French can leave their houses for.
Work.
Chemist.
Other essential journeys.