“Use it or lose it”: Warning over future of Wicksteed Park
UK theme park expert highlights challenges faced by smaller parks
A UK theme park expert has warned that smaller, independent amusement parks face growing pressure, urging the public to support long-standing attractions such as Wicksteed Park in Kettering, Northamptonshire.
Andy Hine MBE, chairman and founder of the Roller Coaster Club of Great Britain, said the sector had been hit hard in recent years, particularly outside the major corporate operators.
“Around the UK theme parks, particularly the smaller family run or non-corporate ones are struggling,” he said, adding that “particularly the last couple of years, we've lost a major park in Wales called Oakwood.”
Hine said the loss of such sites highlighted the fragility of the sector, especially for parks without the financial backing of larger groups.
“One of the reasons the parks are struggling… is because they don't have the budgets and funding available like the bigger parks,” he explained. “So they can't put in a £20,000,000 brand new roller coaster to try and attract new people.”
He added that current economic pressures on households were also having an impact on visitor numbers.
“At the moment, of course, people are struggling. They can't afford to get to the parks… so when they're planning their weekend out, they're very selective about what they can do.”
Focus on Wicksteed Park
Wicksteed Park, which opened in 1921, is one of the UK’s oldest theme parks and is known for its mix of rides and green space. Hine said its history made it a particularly significant site within the industry.
“Wicksteed Park has been around for well over 100 years. It has the oldest log flume in the world.”
He also pointed to its broader legacy in shaping children’s play.
“Wicksteed were the people that invented all the roundabouts, the seesaws, the witches’ hats and so on… and if it wasn't for that, so many of us wouldn't have had such an exciting childhood.”
Despite this, he suggested local awareness can sometimes be limited. He said: “I think locals always tend to forget what's on their own doorstep,” he said, noting that proximity can reduce the sense of a destination day out.
Campaign to boost awareness
In response to these challenges, Hine has organised a club event at Wicksteed Park this Saturday aimed at encouraging enthusiasts to visit smaller venues.
“I started a campaign to try and support smaller parks… so I said… we'll go to Wicksteed Park and show our support.”
The event is expected to attract more than 100 attendees, many of whom have not previously visited the site. Hine explained: “I've got over 100 people attending, many whom we've never been to that park before,”
Participants will also take part in early ride access and a question-and-answer session with a park director, with the aim of building awareness beyond the event itself.
“Hopefully they'll go away… and say to people, you really want to go and do this park because we had such a fantastic day there.” Hine added.
Wider impact concerns
Hine warned that the closure of smaller attractions could have longer-term consequences for local areas.
“If you don't support them, you'll lose them… and then there's no going back,” he said.
He added that once a site closes, redevelopment can quickly follow. “Usually they get quickly developed into housing estates or other things… and you won't get those facilities back.”
“Use it or lose it”
Highlighting Wicksteed Park’s ability to draw visitors, he said such attractions should be recognised as local assets. He added: “If you've got an attraction in your county that can attract groups like that, be grateful for it and support it.”
He warned that if visitors continue to favour larger parks, smaller sites could struggle to survive. He said: “Lose it or use it. If you do not visit your local park and support it, it won't make any money and without money, it cannot survive… once it's gone, it's gone.
The Roller Coaster Club of Great Britain, a non-profit group founded in 1988, runs events at parks across the UK and internationally, bringing together enthusiasts and promoting the industry.