• 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.

Ride Availability/Operations 2022-25

As far as the TPW video goes I’d expect somebody so knowledgable about the park to have a bit more understanding of the protocols - I thought it was a bit weird that he was referring to it as somebody making a bad decision, when it almost certainly would’ve been somebody following a set procedure.

And also weather is notoriously unpredictable, so even if there’s thunder/lighting in the area there’s obviously no guarantee it’ll hit, and then it will look a bit stupid, but there’s that old adage better safe than sorry. I’m sure he’d have been first to complain (and put out a video about it), if guests had been stuck on a ride in thunder and lighting.
Looping back to this, Bianca Summut has responded explaining their protocols. TowersStreet have shared the response below:


From: https://x.com/TowersStreet/status/1948343782337896569


What caught my attention was weather as far as 60 miles away would start invoking these protocols. If there's storms in Leeds or Lincoln, best shut those rides down!

Screenshot_20250724_213410_Firefox.jpg
 
Looping back to this, Bianca Summut has responded explaining their protocols. TowersStreet have shared the response below:


From: https://x.com/TowersStreet/status/1948343782337896569


What caught my attention was weather as far as 60 miles away would start invoking these protocols. If there's storms in Leeds or Lincoln, best shut those rides down!

Screenshot_20250724_213410_Firefox.jpg


I assume the 60 miles means that’s when they start monitoring it closely and they’re on alert to watch it and the process begins
 
Yeah, I read it as they monitor from a 60 mile radius, which can lead to things such as enhanced ride sign-offs etc, and making sure they know what to do and when as the storm gets closer.

I think the communication is great and welcome. however it’s an example of how sometimes communication can be misinterpreted and picked apart and how sometimes saying nothing has advantages.
 
Looping back to this, Bianca Summut has responded explaining their protocols. TowersStreet have shared the response below:


From: https://x.com/TowersStreet/status/1948343782337896569


What caught my attention was weather as far as 60 miles away would start invoking these protocols. If there's storms in Leeds or Lincoln, best shut those rides down!

Screenshot_20250724_213410_Firefox.jpg

Maybe it’s just me but why is the park pushing the info out to those on the “content creator program” to highlight this when the park has its own socials and website.

And if the park is offering a complimentary return for guests wanting it then it should be advertised via official channels?
 
I’d be stunned if they’re shutting with a storm within 60 miles. Like others have said, I’d imagine (or at least hope) that this is where they start monitoring the storm.

60 miles would take them down as far south as Worcester, which seems ludicrous as a closure threshold!
 
Last edited:
Maybe it’s just me but why is the park pushing the info out to those on the “content creator program” to highlight this when the park has its own socials and website.

And if the park is offering a complimentary return for guests wanting it then it should be advertised via official channels?

I imagine because it’s only been enthusiasts getting their knickers in a twist about this so no need to push this out to their wider audience.

Those folks who are eligible for the free return can be communicated to directly via the app or email, again no need to highlight this to everyone.
 
60 miles is an utterly insane distance. That would mean if Thorpe Park were to implement the same policy, both parks would be concerned about a thunderstorm in Northampton and actively monitoring it. What an utter waste of time. Maybe they should use more resources on actively protecting the electrical equipment they do have?
 
Deary me...

Lightning moves in one direction usually, following a weather front or other clear feature, often hill ridges.
Our weather comes in predominantly from the south west, that is the general flow of weather events...90% of them at least.

So Towers safety staff would be monitoring all weather events within sixty miles, but only those moving towards the Towers will be of concern.

So, to put it bluntly, Towers will not give a damn about lightning in Leeds, probably 95% of the time, if ever.
And as Lincoln is eighty miles away, that will not even be on their radar.

The sixty mile limit shows what is likely to be coming, and from what direction, so plans can be made.

The frequency of lightning in this country is highly likely to increase with climate change...so plans must be clear and updated, especially when every thoosie on the planet now notices when the rides are closed due to ridetimes, whereas before very few people noticed.
 
Maybe it’s just me but why is the park pushing the info out to those on the “content creator program” to highlight this when the park has its own socials and website.

And if the park is offering a complimentary return for guests wanting it then it should be advertised via official channels?


Because theme park worldwide posted a vlog with lots of misinformation, so they’re using their pool of content creators to get the word out there. It’s the point of the program and it works.
 
Because theme park worldwide posted a vlog with lots of misinformation, so they’re using their pool of content creators to get the word out there. It’s the point of the program and it works.
Its creates an opportunity for opportunists to slag the park off I see misinformation a lot on any post that relates to a post about Alton Towers
 
Deary me...

Lightning moves in one direction usually, following a weather front or other clear feature, often hill ridges.
Our weather comes in predominantly from the south west, that is the general flow of weather events...90% of them at least.

So Towers safety staff would be monitoring all weather events within sixty miles, but only those moving towards the Towers will be of concern.

So, to put it bluntly, Towers will not give a damn about lightning in Leeds, probably 95% of the time, if ever.
And as Lincoln is eighty miles away, that will not even be on their radar.

The sixty mile limit shows what is likely to be coming, and from what direction, so plans can be made.

The frequency of lightning in this country is highly likely to increase with climate change...so plans must be clear and updated, especially when every thoosie on the planet now notices when the rides are closed due to ridetimes, whereas before very few people noticed.
Now please post that perfectly logical, clear, sensible and succinct explanation as a reply to that post and on TPWW's video to shut up the armchair expert meteorologists, H&S and theme park managers who seem to think they know what's best and have declared that what Towers is doing is complete rubbish and is just down to cost cutting and nothing else.
 
Top