Just one year after the opening of Air, Alton Towers most technologically advanced roller coaster, we expected they would continue to install attractions to keep the park up to speed with the industry, little did we know that something so huge was in the pipeline for 2005!
Wooden roller coasters are popular amongst enthusiasts and with the likes of Megaphobia opening in Oakwood, South Wales they are gaining more respect from the general public. We've always known that it has been John Wardleys dream to build a woodie in a UK park, but Alton Towers has always been doubted due to the strict local planning issues with regards to
noise levels, deforestation and the tree line.
On March 3rd 2003 Alton Towers submitted plans into the Staffordshire Moorlands planning offices for a giant wooden roller coaster, stretching over from a site behind Ug Land, right
across to Forbidden Valley! The scale of this out and back roller coaster is huge and with near 200ft drops in the land levels on the site it has the potential to be one of the worlds most exciting rides. We visited the planning office on Tuesday 18th and found the following information.....
FULL DETAILED PLAN OF LAYOUT
STATION LAYOUT
FULL COASTER LAYOUT
VIEW OF COASTER LIFT HILL
Track Layout
The wooden roller coaster proposed is an out and back ride, the station is on a piece of land behind Ug Land, the trains which hold 30 people (made up of 5 cars each holding 6 persons) exit the station and climb a lift hill up to tree level. It then makes its way out towards Forbidden Valley through the woodlands, though a number of turns and drops. The land has
severe drops of some 200ft and the track keeps quite close to the landscape. The ride comes within feet of Air, it appears through the woodlands near the Air queue line bridge where there is a second lift hill which is slightly smaller than the first. The coaster then makes its way back towards Ug Land, through the woodlands. It would seem that the ride does not take Corkscrews place, but will fit in the land behind the photo booth.
SIDE VIEW OF COASTER, THIS SHOW JUST HOW AMAZING THE DROPS ARE!
Planning issues
All new rides at Alton Towers have problems with planning consent. The first problem to overcome is the tree line, rides should not spoil the view and go above the tree line, it seems that Alton Towers have made this application mostly below the tree line with the exception of the second lift hill which is about the same level as Airs' inline twist. According to the supplementary tree guide, 142 trees need to be removed (12% of trees in ride area, but less than 2% in the woodland area). The planning detail is remarkable, with every tree listed by height, type, exact location and condition. Obviously tree removal would have been
necessary, but will this number give the planning consent meeting room for concern.
A supplementary report shows data from Megaphobia at Oakwood and states that noise pollution is no grounds to dismiss this application.
If this application is successful then we have a possible world record breaking roller coaster, with all the detailed evidence in the plans it would seem that Alton Towers are confident that this application will be successful. A meeting will take place in the first week in April to determine the outcome of the application. The ride is said to be aimed at adults and older teenagers, most probably the 18-21 age that Oblivion was marketed at.
Update!
Unfortunately the wooden roller coaster plans have been withdrawn; the reason for this was due to a few issues regarding the noise and the height of the coaster, Alton Towers have said they plan to resubmit an amended plan of the roller coaster to make sure the plans don’t get denied. The new plans will hopefully be submitted before the end of the season.
