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Chessington World of Adventures Resort

Indeed, for breach of Health and Safety laws. As I posted earlier in the year, Merlin received the highest H&S fine in England between 2008 and 2014 from a local authority prosecution for the Warwick Castle incident. It was in the region of £250,000 if I recall correctly.

I'm not sure how they can be disappointed about the decision to prosecute. What did they expect?

:)
 
350k and 145k costs.

Wow.

Only just read properly about it poor man, makes me wonder the mentality of some of the snarky comments I read about it on here. H&S can be there to protect vulnerable people, such as little ones, disabled folks, and the elderly.

I agree on a common sense practice but this guys got through many years of life!
 
^ But surely this the opposite of 'health and safety gone mad', this is a completely legitimate reason to summon Chessington to court to explain themselves?

Whilst at the park, a girl fell 4.2m and fractured her skull - this isn't a minor incident, she genuinely could have died. Clearly, the safety measures at the park were lacking - it's only because of the incident that they modified the queue (arguably going far too far but the point remains).

I don't get how you could argue that this is that tired old cliché of health and safety gone mad when clearly the park have been negligent in allowing this girl to come to harm. Surely they should have to justify their lack of maintenance to a court - in fact I'm amazed it's taken this long for it to happen.
 
Some people need to stop reading The Sun and The Daily Star as they're regurgitating their populists phrases like "health and safety gone mad". The HSE prevent death and injury, there's nothing mad about that. The only madness is Merlin's defiance, even in the face of being responsible for someone's death in 2007 didn't stop them being "disappointed" with the verdict, shamefully appealing it and then being "disappointed" again once the conviction was upheld.

It's all about PR and they will have calculated that not admitting fault would be the less-worse option.
 
Decent PR wouldn't have done that either.

You would find a way to acknolwedge the trauma etc.

Easy example off the top of my head.

"We are obviously devastated by this occurance, we take our safety extremely seriously, and given this is an antique building safety challenges will obviously present themselves at times unexpectedly. We will continue to strive for continuous improvements to avoid such tragedies in the future with the safety of our guests always being of paramount importance, our on going support and sympathy is with the family at this time"

Really, like I just wrote that first draft, no lawyers, no huge PR fees, not hard.
 
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So begins all the we hope it is a coaster but know it isn't going to be conversations!
 
I imagine that they'll be going down the Scorpion Express route with the Dragon Falls refurb (If it's still taking place) i.e marketing a retheme as a whole new ride, so it's possible that this could be the start of the marketing for that.
 
Max said:
I imagine that they'll be going down the Scorpion Express route with the Dragon Falls refurb (If it's still taking place) i.e marketing a retheme as a whole new ride, so it's possible that this could be the start of the marketing for that.
Click to expand...

That wouldn't be something exciting though.... Surely they can't overhype it too much? As much as they need it I don't think its gonna be a coaster but there is soo much that Chessington could do with. Bubbleworks retheme, new Dragon falls theming pieces, new animal enclosures....
 
Max said:
I imagine that they'll be going down the Scorpion Express route with the Dragon Falls refurb (If it's still taking place) i.e marketing a retheme as a whole new ride, so it's possible that this could be the start of the marketing for that.
Click to expand...

This is my thinking as well.
 
I'm going Falls.

Maybe ditching Peeking at the same time to be replaced by a nice flat. Could market it as a new area...
 
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When will Merlin learn that countdown clocks are embarrassing when things inevitably don't run to time ;)
 
Hope it is a new ride but you just know it will be a 're-themed' Dragon Falls.

:)
 
I had no idea that Remesis Revenge ever looked like that (however I only went Chessie as a child, and then back again in the past few years). It's a bit like Ripsaw, looked great when it opened yet now its very bare and basic. I would say even more so for RR as its just painted really plain now, compared to what it had back then.
 
Chessington have announced that 2015 will be the year of the penguins!

http://www.chessington.com/2015/penguins.aspx

It’s operation have fun at Chessington from Spring 2015, as we dive into the Year of the Penguins, with lots of brand new experiences to be had:

  • DreamWorks’ Penguins of Madagascar descend for an exclusive new live show “Penguins of Madagascar Live: Operation Cheezy Dibbles”.
  • Stay over and join the Penguins on a secret mission in one of two exclusive new Penguins of Madagascar themed bedrooms at the Chessington Safari Hotel.
  • Bounce high into the sky on a newly themed Penguins of Madagascar ride for young adventurers.
  • Humboldt penguins frolic in a brand new enclosure and walk-through experience.
    Don't miss out! Be one of the first to experience the Year of the penguins at Chessington in 2015 and take advantage of our limited time short break offer, saving you 30% when you book your 2015 stay now.
Click to expand...

I hope this isn't the major attraction next year though.
 
@TedTheHuman wasn't there like a clock or something for the new attraction?

I can't find anything. Given it mentions new experiences, walk through, and "ride" I suspect that may be it.

Like you I hope not though!
 
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