South Coast attractions say relentless bad weather's affecting business
It comes after one of the wettest winters on record - with firms facing huge financial pressures ahead of the Easter Holidays
Attractions across the South Coast are warning us the bad weather is affecting business.
It comes after one of the wettest winters on record, with firms facing huge financial pressures ahead of the Easter Holidays.
Attractions, including Marwell Zoo in Hampshire, are calling for changes to weather apps to include more accurate depictions of how long rain might last.
Laura Read, CEO of Marwell Zoo, said: "We are primarily an outdoor experience and so on rainy days, and particularly on days when rain is forecast, it has a huge impact on our visitor numbers.
"People just choose to either stay at home or do something that's primarily indoors, so it can really make or break a day for us."
Ms Read told us how the winter's weather impacted them.
She said; "We were worrying at the start of the year that we might have to build an arc because we did have the animals.
"It's huge because our running costs are in the 10s of thousands of pounds a day to keep everything going here.
"We are a charity, so all of the money we make, gets reinvested back into caring for the animals, improving their habitats, or into our international and UK conservation projects that we run.
"So that direct cost year in year out and the financial impact, can be bad.
"Weather really can make a difference to us."
She told us what she'd like to see.
She said: "Just working with the weather apps to be able to present a more accurate tool and a more accurate overview of when rain is likely to occur, how long it's likely to last.
"I know it's really hard and I'm not a meteorologist by any account, but just what people can expect and plan because there's a big difference between a four hour torrential downpour and a 40-minute light shower, where they can bring a coat or visit an indoor attraction."