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Incident on The Smiler 02/06/2015

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James said:
Maybe we should stop posting news articles daily because lets be honest, they are all a load of BS aimed to get clicks. Why bother giving these sites time of the day.

I'd rather see pure news (like Kelpie has helpfully posted several times) rather than media sensationalism.
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*blushes* why thank you :)
I will keep an eye out for further bits and pieces from Associated Press, AFP and other official statements given to the media such as from Alton Towers, solicitors, hospitals etc. when I get the opportunity.

I agree in a lot of ways that we should probably ignore most of the news articles when we already know they've been so factually inaccurate and it'll just make us further annoyed.

EDIT: turns out AP have their own news app, so hey, that's always an option.
 
I've noticed The Smiler game has been removed from the App Store (or has this been the case for a while?)
Big Six Challenge app is still there though.
 
The Smiler Game was removed yesterday due to the ability of the player to allow for the cars to spark and tip off of the track; the resort saying it is inappropriate in light of recent events obviously. I imagine the Big Six Challenge app will be leaving soon too if all branding for the promotion is to be removed.
 
Maybe we should set up a private eye style page where we debug all the news stories and look through the cracks of what they are saying. does anyone have Ian Hislops number?
 
AirFAN said:
Will the report be made public?
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The HSE doesn't proactively make their investigation reports public.

However, they are subject to Freedom of Information requests where investigation reports (redacted with any personal or confidential information) have to be shared. But that can only happen once legal proceedings have concluded, which can take a number of years.

Theoretically, Merlin could make the results of their investigation public - but highly unlikely before any legal proceedings are concluded, as doing so may admit guilt.

As unsatisfactory as it may be, we are unlikely to know the full details for a number of years.
 
The HSE do issue public reports on major incidents. I am not sure if this will qualify for a multi-page PDF like some investigations, but we will know the outcome in either case.

The way they have been providing updates on this issue would be unusual for the vast majority of their work, so they have acknowledged public interest and the information releases will continue as there are developments. If there is a prosecution and court case, then we will also learn what has gone on via the usual media reporting of that.

What's important to realise is that these things take months or even years.
 
How do people on this forum feel about the effect this could have on the number of guests for the rest of the season.
 
Apparently there's a good chance the parks reopening the park tomorrow (heard from a member of staff).

Today they are extensively testing the rides with members of staff implementing the improved safety regimes.
 
Very hard to gauge. Attendances aren't going to halve or anything. A day-by-day average fall of 10% would be my stab in the dark.
 
Can't see it being affected really, maybe a small percentage decrease due to The Smiler being closed. Is it possible that Alton Towers will stay open a week later this season or open a week earlier next to recoup some of the money lost and satisfy pass holders?
 
Tom said:
Very hard to gauge. Attendances aren't going to halve or anything. A day-by-day average fall of 10% would be my stab in the dark.
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I wasn't expecting massive falls but 10% for the rest of this season and then come 2017/2018 SW8 should drive up attendances back to pre Tuesday levels.

Danza91 said:
Can't see it being affected really, maybe a small percentage decrease due to The Smiler being closed. Is it possible that Alton Towers will stay open a week later this season or open a week earlier next to recoup some of the money lost and satisfy pass holders?
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That is a fair point but do you think some people only go to ride the smiler?

MaxPower said:
Apparently there's a good chance the parks reopening the park tomorrow (heard from a member of staff).

Today they are extensively testing the rides with members of staff implementing the improved safety regimes.
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Is this a senior member of staff or just a ride op/assistant?

Team Edit: Posts merged into one. Please use the multiquote feature in order to respond to different posts within one topic
 
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ASturge21 said:
That is a fair point but do you think some people only go to ride the smiler?
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Not so much now that it has been open for 2 years and people have had ample time to ride it, but if you haven't ridden it before and have the option to visit later on in the year (assuming it's back open) or just wait till next season, people might take that.
 
Danza91 said:
Not so much now that it has been open for 2 years and people have had ample time to ride it, but if you haven't ridden it before and have the option to visit later on in the year (assuming it's back open) or just wait till next season, people might take that.
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From my point of view I come from Scotland (7 hour drive) and it took me until October 2014 to ride it for the first time and many of my friends are yet to ride it. So the impact will just be short term and very small.
 
There will be some people that stay away because the park has had an accident - it's just a question of how many.

There will be virtually no one that stays away because The Smiler is not available to ride.
 
Tom said:
There will be some people that stay away because the park has had an accident - it's just a question of how many.

There will be virtually no one that stays away because The Smiler is not available to ride.
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My school issued letters about a trip to Alton Towers on Wednesday and I believe that very few have been put off visiting.
 
I think I may have badly worded my post. I don't think people will be put off because there's been an accident, at least not many. And I don't think people will cancel a visit just because The Smiler is closed, but if they have the flexibility to and visit in say September or October, then perhaps they might.

Either way, I'm not expecting a huge reduction in gate numbers but, I know nothing.
 
I would understand a noticable drop this season, but not for next season or the seasons after that. Once the media stop going Smiler crazy, people will forget all about it if im honest
 
It will have an impact for about 3 months, the Internet makes us think everyone is a crazy risk averse psycho but most people are reasonable.

By next season the impact will have gone.
 
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