Alton Towers Almanac

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Blue sky thinking at Alton Towers?

After a summer of dreary weather and disappointing visitor numbers as a result, the park are considering a radical solution to the problem.

Alton Towers are investigating using "cloud seeding" techniques to move rainfall away from the resort, to allow guests to have a rain-free day out.

Cloud seeding is a technique that has been in use for around sixty years, most notably by the Russian and Chinese governments, which involves aeroplanes firing dry ice into clouds to burst them before they float over the controlled area.

Currently, the park's management are looking into the costs involved to gauge the feasibility of keeping the entire 500 acre resort dry for future summer seasons.

Alton Towers' General Manager Russell Barnes said, "It's still a long way off, but after we read that Beijing plan to use cloud seeding to keep the 2008 Olympics dry, we thought we'd investigate.

"Whilst our resort features a large number of indoor attractions and rides, the wet weather definitely puts off families and our aim is to not be held hostage to the increasingly extreme weather conditions."

It is not yet known what the resort's neighbouring areas will think of the plan, if it actually comes to fruition.