Thorpe Park plans to build new roller coaster

THORPE Parks has announced plans for a brand new roller coaster – and it’s set to be the largest in the UK.

The latest addition of the Surrey-based theme park could be ready for thrill-seekers by 2024.

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The resort already boasts Swarm, which was the last roller coaster to open at the theme park in 2012.

The plans for the monster roller coaster – believed to be codenamed Project Exodus – were announced at a rollout to local residents on Thursday.

Based on RideRater, a site dedicated to theme parks, the 236ft ride will be the tallest roller coaster in the UK – beating the record 213ft held by the Big One at Blackpool Pleasure Beach since 1994.

Other details have now been shared by Thorpe Park bosses and members of the public have been asked to share their thoughts on the big plans.

Outlining the proposals, Thorpe Park said it would involve “removing existing games on the development site and replacing it with a new roller coaster”.

It added: “Visitors will be transported from the station structure around a new track over the water in an exhilarating experience.

“A proposed maintenance building is on the west side of the station building and will have associated facilities provided such as food outlets and photo shops.”

Thorpe Park said details of the ride’s design will be “provided through the planning process” and that the layout is subject to change.

In one statement, the theme park said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has and continues to have a significant impact on the number of guests entering the Resort.

“Thorpe Park Resort aims to continue investing in Park attractions to encourage more people to return to the Resort now that tourism has reopened.

“This key investment and the introduction of new attractions are critical to the Resort’s recovery from the Covid-related impacts on business.

“With this in mind, we are pleased to announce that we are proposing to add an exciting new roller coaster to Thorpe Park Resort’s portfolio of world-class attractions.

“This will be the first new roller coaster at Thorpe Park since the arrival of THE SWARM in 2012.”

The 4-week public consultation on the roller coaster plan will run through January 7, with two virtual meetings for locals on Monday, December 13.

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