Water park hours cut at Alton Towers for 2010

Alton Towers has made swinging cuts to the opening hours of its Water Park for the 2010 season.

Towers Times reports that the park, attached to the Splash Landings hotel, will now open for up to 15 hours less per week during the bulk of the main theme park season (March - October).

The new opening hours for the Water Park are:

• Weekdays: 11am-5pm (previously 10am-6pm)
• Fridays and Saturdays: 10am-6pm (previously 10am-8pm
• Sundays: 10am-4pm (previously 10am-6pm)
• Summer holidays (mid-July to end of August): 10am-9pm (previously 10am-8pm)

Alton Towers clearly views the school summer holidays as the peak season for the Water Park, having extended the existing hours during that period. Cost savings are likely to have figured in the decision to reduce hours elsewhere.

The Alton Towers Water Park originally opened as Cariba Creek in 2003. It covers 40,000 square feet and is one of Europe's largest indoor water parks. Originally, entry was only available to guests at Alton Towers' two hotels, but in 2004 the park was opened to the public for an entry fee.

The new hours may limit the ability of weekend visitors to head to the water park after a day at Alton Towers - with entry costing £14 for adults and £10 for children, and very little time separating the closing times of the theme park and water park.