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Coaster court

Alton Towers

Proceedings in court this year started how they ended last year, with Alton’s village idiots Stephen and Suzanne Roper once again wasting the courtroom’s time with their disproportionate complaints about the noise that the park makes.

Last year, Alton Towers were served with an abatement order meaning that the park had to keep noise below 40 decibels, which in real terms equates to background noise in an office.

Alton Towers have appealed against the finding, and now the Roper family are appealing against the abatement, insisting that 40 decibels is still too lenient.

Despite all the noise the Ropers are making about the park, we haven’t actually heard a peep since; with the hearing due in the latter part of 2006, we can only hope that the Ropers have finally decided to keep their own form of noise pollution under 40 decibels.

Hydro

More importantly, the inquest into the death of Hayley Williams – who fell from Hydro at Oakwood in April 2004 - concluded with somewhat surprising results.

A narrative verdict recorded how the death of Miss Williams was not unlawful, saying that there was no evidence of gross negligence, ruling that an unlawful killing verdict would not be considered.

The family of Miss Williams said after the hearing that they were ‘deeply disappointed’ with the verdict while the park defended the accusation that ‘Hayley did nothing on the day she died other than set foot in Oakwood’ by saying that 120m safe rides have been given since the park opened.

The verdict was something of a shock it has to be said.

Evidence at the hearing seemed weighted against the small family-run park. The enquiry heard how Oakwood’s training was seemingly littered with inconsistencies; manuals state that a physical check of restraints was required, although the supervisor said this wasn’t ever something he was shown.

The same supervisor, Gareth Etchells, also signed documentation to say he had read and understood the manual, when this was not the case.

Miss Williams’ death was caused by the fact her restraint was not lowered. CCTV footage clearly showed that the T-shaped restraint was in an upright position and had not been checked. The ride was also dispatched without the assistant ride operator’s acknowledgement.

In these litigious times and in light of this evidence, it was something of a surprise that a narrative verdict was given, but perhaps it signals that ultimate responsibility lies with the rider, which in a society that insists people are wrapped in cotton wool is something of a rarity.

See also: CK Blog: Hydro Inquest Coverage

Treetop Twister

In 2001, two cars on the Reverchon Crazy Mouse at Lightwater Valley, Treetop Twister, collided. Gemma Savage, a university student from Wath-upon-Dearne, was taken to hospital with serious injuries but sadly died the next day.

Incredibly, it has taken five years for the case to go to court, with the park, an electrician and the ride manufacturer, Reverchon, all charged with breaches of health and safety.

Eric Butters, an electrician for the park was charged with failing to ensure safety through his work.

Butters said at the time of the accident that he thought he had ‘messed up’. He was called to the ride after a technical fault had stopped the ride. He was manually advancing cars through the course and back to the station when one car hit the back of Miss Savage’s at the bottom of a drop. Three other people were injured.

Butters said that he was only given an hour’s training and wasn’t told that he had to press the ride’s emergency stop button to override the PLC before operating the manual controls.

Faulty wiring on the ride meant that operating manually was possible without pressing this button, and this is what caused the accident.

Lightwater Valley were charged with failing to ensure the health and safety of riders, while Reverchon were charged with failing to ensure the safety of construction of the ride.

Both Lightwater Valley and Eric Butters have both pleaded and been found guilty. While a not guilty plea was entered on Reverchon’s behalf (they have since gone into liquidation), they were found guilty on 30th November to two charges of health and safety breaches.

So, bad news for the park and the manufacturer, but justice has at least been done. From the design of the ride to the way it was operated, clearly there was an unacceptable catalogue of faults and problems that led to the needless death of a rider. While nowadays parks are embroiled with needless and intrusive legislation, in this case it was absolutely right for the park and manufacturer to be summoned to court.

See also: CK Blog: Reverchon Guilty
See also: CK Blog: Reverchon summoned to court

Park and Bride

Alton Towers was once again courting controversy this year, although – far be it from me to give the place credit – unfairly.

Islamic Leisure, a company whose ethos is to promote and encourage leisure activities that fall within Islamic ‘regulations’, attempted to hire the park out one September day so that Muslims could enjoy the park as (their) god intended; without gambling, alcohol and music, but with segregated rides, prayer areas and Halal meat.

Clearly, Alton Towers were stuck between a rock and a hard place. Islamic Leisure are, whatever their beliefs, entitled to hire out the park, just like BT and even you or me. There was no way that they could say no to Islamic Leisure on the basis that they were a Muslim organisation, as this would have been tantamount to racism.

The plot thickened when Amanda Morris and Scott Lee entered the argument, owing to the fact their wedding at Alton Towers was scheduled for the day before Islamic Leisure’s event.

Their argument was that their wedding plans were in ‘tatters’ as they were only allowed to celebrate their wedding if they conform to the Muslims’ conventions which, ironically, often includes segregation.

One fact that was conveniently overlooked was the fact the couple had booked the hotel for the wedding on a Saturday. And the park was hired out to a private function, in this case, Islamic Leisure, on the Sunday.

So, not the double booking that has been suggested – Alton Towers have held their part of the contract.

Ultimately, the Islamic Leisure event was cancelled due, apparently, to poor ticket sales, although Islamic Leisure’s website suggests that Alton Towers weren’t able to cater for all of their specific requests.

“We strongly believe that it is not appropriate to organize an event which does not allow us to uphold our ethos, even though we may incur financial loss by cancelling,” it said. Continues...