Alton Towers to cut up to 70 jobs after Smiler horror crash

Job losses: Between 60 and 70 staff at Alton Towers face redundancy
Joe Giddens/PA Wire
Fiona Simpson14 November 2016

As many as 70 staff at Alton Towers will face redundancy next year after the theme park was hit with £5million fine following a horror rollercoaster crash.

Teenagers Vicky Balch, then 19, and Leah Washington, then 17, each lost a leg on the Smiler ride in June last year.

Stafford Crown Court heard the victims watched with "disbelief and horror" before ploughing into an empty carriage on the track, with the impact likened to a 90mph car crash.

Merlin, the entertainment company behind the themepark, was fined after the court heard an engineer "felt pressure" to get Smiler back into service after it developed a fault shortly before the devastating crash.

Victim: Vicky Balch lost a leg as a result of the incident
Chris Radburn/ PA Wire

Alton Towers confirmed that between 60 – 70 people working at the resort would be at risk of redundancy before the 2017 season.

A spokeswoman said the resort had been looking at ways to improve its “operating model”.

Victim: Leah Washington was injured in the crash 
Rui Vieira/PA Wire

She added: “A detailed review of operations has been undertaken across the business to seek further efficiencies and increase flexibility.

“As a result of this review, Alton Towers Resort can confirm that it expects to make between 60-70 redundancies ahead of the 2017 season.

“Alton Towers will work closely with all those affected in order to support them through the consultation process and any subsequent requirement for alternative employment and job search activities.

“This was an incredibly difficult proposal to make and it has not been taken lightly.

“However, we are committed to the long term development of the Resort and believe that this action now, together with a continuous programme of investment, will ensure its future growth, which is so vital to the local economy."

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