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The 'Why are the Towers ruins not open' thread

GaryH said:
Probably closed due to the number of morons who visit the place these days and prefer to vandalise it and smoke weed in there rather than go there to respect its history. Same reason they had to lock up the conservatories in the gardens. They used to once be open to the public to walk through.
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Agreed, such a shame, but at the same time Merlin could quite easily shift a few members of staff about to wander through every 20 mins or so, last Monday we were on park and they had four staff members on the entrance to sub terra to say its closed. FOUR!!!

The towers said closed where you usually enter for Terror of the Towers even back then but I knew you could often enter via the Sanctuary conservatory so we got in fine there, as had quite a few other people - I've never seen so many people looking round to be honest. But why have that silly sign up in the first place? If I wasn't a regular visitor I would have just turned away disappointed.

The green Sanctuary door where Dr Kelman used to greet you was ajar and hanging off the bracket, took a quick peek round and it was all storage, all crammed in there so I wouldn't bet on Sanctuary being present for Scarefest this year in my opinion.
 
It's a shame with such a rich history they don't make more of an attraction out of the Towers. We know it's not the money maker of the resort but it's a shame we don't see more use made of the history of Alton Towers. It's even worse now that the official heritage site no longer exists, as a link to the main site at least (although thankfully we still have altontowersmemories.net around).

I've always thought a small exhibit, archives area/museum-type attraction and tea room would really suit the Towers and draw in a different kind of audience that could enjoy it.

I haven't been able to go in the Towers for 3 or 4 years, I only visit yearly and everytime I go it's closed for one reason or another which is a huge shame and very frustrating.

I kinda hope with English Heritage they have to have the Towers open for a certain time of the year, just so your contact with them gets recognised and Towers is forced to do something about it. Although sadly I have a feeling there are no rules for that, I doubt Towers would risk breaching any terms they have to stick to as a part of the restoration programme.
 
Alton Towers should open up a permanent archive display/museum in part of the Towers. That would be a great attraction welcomed by all.

:)
 
I really wish more of the Towers were restored and opened to the public, but seeing how dilapidated most of the building is, I can't see that ever happening.

But there's so much more of the grounds that could be made available. The Swiss Cottage, the Dovecote, the conservatories in the Gardens.

It annoys me how much is hidden away and not even acknowledged.
 
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Today
 
Having a greater number of people in various parts of the Towers in an non-organised way, would be quite difficult logistically and potentially expensive if you needed additional staff to patrol.

Imagine having staircases like those anywhere else in the park, it would be chaos! The current set up only really works because it's such low numbers of people.

In terms of investing in the building and restoring it, it'd be a very strange investment for Merlin to make.
 
Yes, but its a grade II listed building, they actually cant leave it to rot.

and if I can remind you, its called Alton TOWERS.
 
Leah said:
Yes, but its a grade II listed building, they actually cant leave it to rot.

and if I can remind you, its called Alton TOWERS.
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They're not leaving it to rot. There's a world of difference (and cost) between full restoration and managing the ruins so that they are safe.
 
most people won't visit the towers though because they don't have time to so Merlin are never going to restore the towers properly as its not going to bring people to the park and it's not going to entice that many new people into the towers
 
Rick said:
They're not leaving it to rot. There's a world of difference (and cost) between full restoration and managing the ruins so that they are safe.
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Have you been in the towers. I'm sorry if you feel you need to argue with me, but some of the rooms really are falling apart. They need restoring.
bluesonichd said:
Even parts open that shouldnt be
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Ok, so they didn't do this one, but it proves my point.

It also proves the point that they are not doing a full restoration, as you said.
I'm pretty sure they know what they're doing, even if we don't.
 
I may be in a minority here, but I'd rather see money being spent on large scale restorations of the historical aspects of the park, rather than having a new ride every few years.

That's not going to happen though. It's taken them about 4 years to restore the stained glass window in the Banqueting Hall, and that still isn't done.
 
Leah said:
Have you been in the towers. I'm sorry if you feel you need to argue with me, but some of the rooms really are falling apart. They need restoring.
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Yes, I've been going in since before you were born. The areas that can be accessed are structurally sound. Why invest money in aesthetic changes when the infrastructure of the building can't handle additional people? Imagine the uproar on here if £x million was spent on doing something with the Towers instead of building a new B&M, or something.

Stevie said:
I may be in a minority here, but I'd rather see money being spent on large scale restorations of the historical aspects of the park, rather than having a new ride every few years.

That's not going to happen though. It's taken them about 4 years to restore the stained glass window in the Banqueting Hal, and that still isn't done.
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I understand your frustrations, but in terms of cap-ex, it's always going to be down the chain. Naturally, the park has to support to the ongoing and future needs of its core business first and the Towers building(s) just isn't part of that, it seems.
 
Could you just accept that some people think they do need restoring, even If you don't. @Stevie is right. I might just be in that minority that thinks they should be restored. I'm sure that lots of people on here will agree.
 
Leah said:
Could you just accept that some people think they do need restoring, even If you don't. @Stevie is right. I might just be in that minority that thinks they should be restored. I'm sure that lots of people on here will agree.
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I haven't said I wouldn't want them to be restored, I've just said that it doesn't make any financial or practical sense.

I'd love them to bring Thunder Looper and Black Hole back. I'd love them to open until Midnight. I'd love them to build a new coaster every year..... None of them make sense.

Sorry for debating :)
 
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