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| Alton Towers: Up to 190 jobs may go after Smiler crash | Alton Towers: Up to 190 jobs may go after Smiler crash |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Up to 190 jobs may be lost at Alton Towers theme park following a rollercoaster crash which seriously injured five people. | Up to 190 jobs may be lost at Alton Towers theme park following a rollercoaster crash which seriously injured five people. |
| Two women needed leg amputations after the Smiler ride crashed into an empty carriage in front of it on 2 June. | Two women needed leg amputations after the Smiler ride crashed into an empty carriage in front of it on 2 June. |
| The Staffordshire park said the impact of the "devastating incident" included reduced visitor numbers, particularly over the key summer months. | The Staffordshire park said the impact of the "devastating incident" included reduced visitor numbers, particularly over the key summer months. |
| The park is restructuring the business ahead of its new season in March. | The park is restructuring the business ahead of its new season in March. |
| "Regretfully however, it may result in the loss of up to 190 salaried jobs across the resort," an Alton Towers spokeswoman said. | "Regretfully however, it may result in the loss of up to 190 salaried jobs across the resort," an Alton Towers spokeswoman said. |
| The attraction at Alton employs 1,000 permanent staff members as well as about 1,500 seasonal workers between March and November. | |
| Savings are also expected to come from not filling vacancies and redeploying some staff. | |
| "As soon as employee representatives have been appointed a consultation period will begin," she said. | "As soon as employee representatives have been appointed a consultation period will begin," she said. |
| 'Very difficult year' | |
| A total of 16 people were injured when the carriage they were in collided with an empty one that had come to a halt on the track ahead of them. | A total of 16 people were injured when the carriage they were in collided with an empty one that had come to a halt on the track ahead of them. |
| Merlin Entertainment, which owns Alton Towers, previously said they would all receive compensation. | |
| Four people sat in the front row were among those most seriously hurt. | |
| Victoria Balch, 20, from Lancashire, who was sitting in the front of the ride alongside Leah Washington, Joe Pugh and Daniel Thorpe, had six rounds of surgery in a bid to save her leg before needing an amputation. | |
| Ms Washington, 17, from Barnsley, also had one of her legs amputated and her 18-year-old boyfriend Joe Pugh, 18, shattered his knees. | |
| Mr Thorpe, 27, was treated for a collapsed lung and lower-leg injuries. | |
| In addition, Chanda Chauhan, 49, from Wednesbury, had surgery after suffering internal injuries. | |
| Alton Towers, which issued interim payments to help with the victims' rehabilitation at the end of June, said the business restructure followed a "very difficult year". | |
| The park said it had carried out a "detailed review of all operations across the resort" as it considered its immediate challenges and future needs. | |
| "This was an incredibly difficult decision to make and it has not been taken lightly or easily," its statement said. | |
| "However, we believe that this reorganisation now, together with a continuous programme of capital investment, will not only ensure the resort's long-term growth, which is so vital to the local economy, but also protect the jobs of the bulk of its employees for the future." |