Secret Weapon Backfired

[TheBolt]

As we all know, Alton Towers likes nothing more than a world's first, with its secret weapon developments.

In the long term, could this cause AT the same issues BPB has, where their historic rides start to get listed and they cannot remove them?

Nemesis and Oblivion stand out as rides that might be considered historically significant at some point. Generally structures need to be 30+ years old for listed status, but there have been younger examples.

 

[Thameslink Rail]

There needs to be a very good reason for listing a modern building and if the Wild Mouse didn't get listed then I doubt Nemesis will.

 

[rob666]

Mouse had been changed considerably.

 

[pluk]

The Secretary of State uses the following criteria when assessing whether a building is of special
architectural or historic interest and therefore should be added to the statutory list:

 Architectural Interest:
To be of special architectural interest a building must be of importance in its design, decoration
or craftsmanship. Special interest may also apply to particularly significant examples of
building types or techniques (e.g. buildings displaying technological innovation or virtuosity)
and significant plan forms. Engineering and technological interest can be an important
consideration for some buildings. For more recent buildings in particular, the functioning of
the building (to the extent that this reflects on its original design and planned use, where
known) will also be a consideration. Artistic distinction can also be a factor relevant to the
architectural interest of buildings and objects and structures fixed to them.

 Historic Interest:
To be able to justify special historic interest a building must illustrate important aspects of the
nation’s history and / or have closely substantiated historical associations with nationally
important individuals, groups or events; and the building itself in its current form will afford a
strong connection with the valued aspect of history.


Are any if the rides at Towers of special architectural interest? No. They are all examples of mass produced rollercoaster types. While they are early versions of their respective types by manufacturer that is of little consequence. A ride vehicle running on a track nothing new.

Are any of Towers rides of historic interest? By the definition used, no. Not even close.

Where this differs from Blackpool is those rides were some of the very earliest surviving examples of coasters existing at all, not just a tweaked variety of coaster form. They were also individually crafted by hand rather than being shipped preformed from another country and bolted together.

I don't think this is a problem Towers will have.

 

[jon81uk]

Also to some extent Corkscrew was the ride that made Alton Towers into an amusement park so surely that was of more significance to the park, although not to the rollercoaster industry.

 

[Mr Pearse]

I can’t see at any point in my lifetime any rides getting listed at Alton Towers. BPB far as I’m aware didn’t apply for the listings so obviously it’s not an ideal situation but unfortunately it’s happened and the park has to just work around that. In terms of Towers I think everything that could be listed is listed I can’t think of anything else.

 

[Kraken27]

Mouse had been changed considerably.

True. However, Amanda Thompson also saw what had happened with the Scenic Railway at Margate getting listed status. So when she decided to close Pleasureland, it was a case of get the chainsaws onto Cyclone fast before anyone could try and get it listed. It's a shame, as Cyclone was a fun ride (& also my first wooden coaster).

Similar-ish with the Wild Mouse, just dismantle it on the quiet when the park is closed for the Winter. Once it's gone, there is nothing anyone can do about it.

 

[John]

Listing a ride doesn't guarantee its operation of course, had the Mouse been listed it might just be SBNO now. Cyclone might have been saved for New Pleasureland though.

Regardless, I can't see any ride at Towers lasting long enough that it would become a realistic candidate for being listed.

 

[pluk]

Listing a ride doesn't guarantee its operation of course, had the Mouse been listed it might just be SBNO now.

Isn't Blackpool's Ark a depressing example of this? Reduced to a listed rooftop ornament.