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Car Parking Charge
Rick
TS Member
@Poopoohead I think the standard pass is primarily there to illustrate the value of Premium at this point.
There is a use case for it, especially if you tend to visit midways and the restrictions don't harm your preferred visit times.
There is a use case for it, especially if you tend to visit midways and the restrictions don't harm your preferred visit times.
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I'm standard MAP, and judging by the reply's on social media, the season pass are also selling well. I've never agreed with the car parking charges, even when I used to get it for free on the standard MAP before they introduced the premium MAP.
Dipper_Dave
TS Member
Agree with these. Because they can, and because they know its not exactly easily to park in nearby streets. Can you even park on them? I guess there are double yellows on most of them, never really looked. On 'because they can', its like posh golf clubs charging a 4-figure joining fee (not to mention annual fees), whenever I've heard such fees discussed, the answer inevitably comes back "Because they can", as somebody will be more than happy to pay £3,000 before they have even sliced a golf ball into thick gorse. Fair enough, these are the type of clubs that have disappeared up their own arses, blow their noses onto £50 notes, want to know what car you drive, see your private number plate and give you an interview before they let you loose onto their precious course to hit a ball with a metal stick into a hole in the ground, but you get the point. I digress, Merlin charge punters to park at Towers because they can.
Yes, lets face it, for an attraction so big and popular, the roads to it are pretty appalling. A long time ago my friend's wing mirror was ripped clean off as he swerved left to avoid a large, wide vehicle coming towards him, from memory over a stone wall bridge.
speedy
TS Member
Also no pavement so very dangerous to walk up. I wouldn't mind the parking charges if there were viable public transport options. I'm all for pushing people towards ditching their car. But as it is now it's ridiculous (though not quite as bad ad the parking charges in Florida).
Alsty
TS Member
It would be nice to improve the public transport connections but I don't see how you could do it. If rail is not doable then your only remaining option is buses. You would need to make a bus service that's good enough for people to want to use it (i.e. choose it instead of driving), and that would cost a lot of money to provide.
Perhaps more realistically, some of the money could be put towards improving the existing roads where possible, such as widening pinch points.
In reality Merlin don't have to spend it on transport infrastructure at all, so they won't. It's a bit like when people say "I pay enough road tax for them to fix these potholes". The reality is the money is not ring-fenced and can be spent on anything.
Perhaps more realistically, some of the money could be put towards improving the existing roads where possible, such as widening pinch points.
In reality Merlin don't have to spend it on transport infrastructure at all, so they won't. It's a bit like when people say "I pay enough road tax for them to fix these potholes". The reality is the money is not ring-fenced and can be spent on anything.
Rick
TS Member
Some of the comments in this thread absolutely baffle me.
Given Alton's location and the access routes to it, there is never going to be a viable and thriving public transport network that serves the park. You'd need a massively complicated hub and spoke style system that would require large numbers of operators or separate ticketing.
Plus, the hugely varying capacity requirements mean that road transport would be extremely painful to deliver in an effective way and you'd have too much or not enough capacity when you needed it.
Additionally, I don't understand why going to a theme park is different than going to any other leisure facility where you wouldn't think twice about paying for parking.
Think about per cap spending rather than parking, admissions, F&B etc. There is an overall cost associated with visiting the park and they divide it across revenue streams which aids a number of business functions. Plus, if there is a cost of something you can reduce it or make it free for a subset of your guests.
There is an argument that you could remove the parking charge and write off that revenue (not a small amount) or you could pull that revenue from other streams (higher admissions etc etc).
Given Alton's location and the access routes to it, there is never going to be a viable and thriving public transport network that serves the park. You'd need a massively complicated hub and spoke style system that would require large numbers of operators or separate ticketing.
Plus, the hugely varying capacity requirements mean that road transport would be extremely painful to deliver in an effective way and you'd have too much or not enough capacity when you needed it.
Additionally, I don't understand why going to a theme park is different than going to any other leisure facility where you wouldn't think twice about paying for parking.
Think about per cap spending rather than parking, admissions, F&B etc. There is an overall cost associated with visiting the park and they divide it across revenue streams which aids a number of business functions. Plus, if there is a cost of something you can reduce it or make it free for a subset of your guests.
There is an argument that you could remove the parking charge and write off that revenue (not a small amount) or you could pull that revenue from other streams (higher admissions etc etc).
speedy
TS Member
There used to be a rail link to Alton Towers.
It sounds like you and me disagree fundamentally about how public transport in general should work. IMO transport should be subsidised, nationalised and there for the people who need it . The UKs largest theme park warrants good public transport, and it would reduce the traffic in the area too.
Rick
TS Member
Indeed there did, but the function of the site was entirely different and motor car ownership was vastly different:
You're right, we disagree fundamentally.
speedy
TS Member
While that is true, railway ridership is increasing, and we have to reduce our reliance on cars for the environment and our own health. Plus, rail transport is much safer and more accessible for the disabled. Same goes for busses.Indeed there did, but the function of the site was entirely different and motor car ownership was vastly different:
You're right, we disagree fundamentally.
Rick
TS Member
I don't disagree but I think that there are far more practical journeys to target with the infrastructure already in place.
More so, there are far more journeys and destinations deserving of any funding that wouldn't be invested in to largely support a seasonal private enterprise.
Poopoohead
TS Member
We will never reduce reliance on cars, not everyone lives in a big city with fabulous 24/7 public transport.
???????
Try saying that to wheelchair users
You only have to look at recent head lines to see what difficulties that disable people face on public transport, from not being able to have access to the toilets on the trains to being told to move their mobility scooter on a train so that a pram can use the space. Not all train stations have level access either. We could not certainly get Jess's chair on any public transport either. Plus you can only fit so many wheelchairs on a bus or train, so if all the wheelchair spaces are taken up, then the wheelchair user will have to wait for the next bus or train, not great if its the last bus or train of the day.
speedy
TS Member
Much more accessible than not being able to get anywhere in the first place. Yes the companies are screwing wheelchair users over, but for people that can't drive it's much better. The guard that asked her to move the mobility scooter was in the wrong, and it shows the companies that have been allowed to run our transport are doing a bad job, not that transport itself is inaccessible. The platforms at wrong heights, no disabled toilets etc is again the rail companies and the government not willing to spend the money to make it more accessible.???????
Try saying that to wheelchair users
You only have to look at recent head lines to see what difficulties that disable people face on public transport, from not being able to have access to toilets on the trains to being told to move their mobility scooter on a train so that a pram can use the space. Not all train stations have level access either. We could not certainly get Jess's chair on any public transport either. Plus you can only fit so many wheelchairs on a bus or train, so if all the wheelchair spaces are taken up, then the wheelchair user will have to wait for the next bus or train, not great if its the last bus or train of the day.
Public trabsport isn't really Alton Towers problem though, more a political issue. It's not really their fault the companies that run our transport have cut the number of services.
As for the parking charge, I can't think of many other places in the middle of nowhere that charge, except for National Trust.
MaxPower
TS Member
Whatever Alton Towers charge for car parking, it's nowhere near as disgusting as hospitals charging for it, but that's another discussion..
I think it does rub salt into the wounds to charge you for leaving when people have possibly spent a small fortune on the entrance fee, food, drink, Fasttrack etc... and I have tried getting to the park on public transport before. Never again.
I dread to think how someone in a wheelchair would manage, if at all.
They know travelling by car is the only realistic option for many people and they exploit that fact.
It's as simple as that really.
I think it does rub salt into the wounds to charge you for leaving when people have possibly spent a small fortune on the entrance fee, food, drink, Fasttrack etc... and I have tried getting to the park on public transport before. Never again.
I dread to think how someone in a wheelchair would manage, if at all.
They know travelling by car is the only realistic option for many people and they exploit that fact.
It's as simple as that really.
ChristmasPud
TS Member
I think most people would expect only low parking charges at local leisure facilities. Many in my region also refund the parking charge (including major in-town shopping centres) when you buy items/ buy a ticket inside. Nobody expects to visit an average leisure attraction and spend £6 on parking paired with £30+ ticket each. It's not as if parking space is limited either or any alternative available.
Also, you say it's baffling why people compare the upkeep of car parks compared to the charge. It's perfectly understandable, it's called value for money and it's what brings people back. The charge may not relate to the upkeep behind the scenes but VFM is something the park should be delivering.
VFM is likely what any member of the public will naturally expect if charged more than normal, unless VFM continues to be abolished from public conscience through ridiculous advertising and the general dumbing down of the consumer using 'brands'. Cynically, the fact that so many people are willing to spend 2 grand on a visit to a decorated travelodge simply because it has a logo on the front (when you have gorgeous B&Bs down the road for more like £40 pp) suggests the latter I suppose, and Merlin seem to have based their whole business around exploiting this. Guess that's another discussion...
In terms of Alton's car parks specifically, they are miles better than those at Chessington, Legoland Windsor (most visited park in the UK with loads of space) and Thorpe Park (also loads of space). It's still quite the "dont come back" sour taste.
Don't even get me started on that one. I fully agree with you on that despite the fact that at our local hospitals we get free parking for blue-badge holders, which is more than what Merlin attractions are doing for blue badge holders, not even a reduce concession.
Especially with this season shoddy ride operations and poor ride opening times
Yes they have us all over a barrel. If you are not worried at all about the pass restrictions, you only need the one premium MAP (the driver or the regular visitor in your group or family) and the rest of your group/family can just have a season pass or a standard MAP to get unlimited free parking. Just make sure that if your family members are visiting without the premium pass holder, that they bring the premium MAP with them to use.
Alton never had a car parking charge.
It introduced it to fund a new bypass.
The bypass could not be agreed due to JCB who own most the land up there not allowing a road to be built on it.
However, AT liked the extra money, so kept the parking charge and increased it over the years.
I am not anti-parking charge, BUT, there is NO other option to visit AT unless you go by car, or a pre-organised coach trip. If there was a decent rail link, or public transport to the park, fair enough, but there isnt.
It introduced it to fund a new bypass.
The bypass could not be agreed due to JCB who own most the land up there not allowing a road to be built on it.
However, AT liked the extra money, so kept the parking charge and increased it over the years.
I am not anti-parking charge, BUT, there is NO other option to visit AT unless you go by car, or a pre-organised coach trip. If there was a decent rail link, or public transport to the park, fair enough, but there isnt.
AT86
TS Member
The chances of removing the car parking charge are about the same as returning to free fastrack.
It may leave a bad final impression on guests but car parking charges were introduced at AT 16 years ago now, I don’t think it has had any measurable impact on guest numbers.
The only thing that surprises me is that the charge has remained at £6 for so long. It’s long overdue an increase.
It may leave a bad final impression on guests but car parking charges were introduced at AT 16 years ago now, I don’t think it has had any measurable impact on guest numbers.
The only thing that surprises me is that the charge has remained at £6 for so long. It’s long overdue an increase.