One in every of Britain’s oldest theme parks has warned it may shut after Rachel Reeves’ "sledgehammer" measures within the Autumn Price range left it dealing with 1000’s of kilos in additional prices.
Wicksteed Park in Northamptonshire, which first opened in 1921, has mentioned it has suffered a big hit resulting from rising prices and a drop in guests linked to the cost-of-living disaster.
The theme park’s income might have fallen by as a lot as £30,000 resulting from Ms Reeves' Autumn Price range will increase to minimal wage and Nationwide Insurance coverage, The Categorical revealed.
The Authorities has been warned that Wicksteed and different beloved British theme parks may face closure until their considerations are addressed.
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The good-grandson of the park's founder, Oliver Wicksteed, mentioned the elevated prices over the previous 12 months have felt like a "sledgehammer" for the enterprise.
Mr Wicksteed, who additionally chairs the Wicksteed Charitable Belief that owns the park, mentioned: “Larger understanding relatively than what seems like a sledgehammer could be very a lot appreciated and a few extra communication and feeling that individuals like us wish to have a voice.
“As a result of we need to be listened to and that voice doesn’t really feel prefer it’s being heard in any respect, regardless of my efforts in contacting all types of individuals in numerous positions.
“Everyone’s sympathetic, no one’s doing something, and that doesn’t assist.
“We’d like any person that’s truly going to do one thing constructive to help the folks of this nation and the companies on this nation and the charities that are discovering it actually, actually exhausting in the meanwhile.
“In any other case, you’re going to lose organisations that you’ll by no means get again and that will be a disgrace.”
The theme park was based over a century in the past by Charles Wicksteed, who made entry free as he was keen about offering native households with a protected, inexperienced area to train and play.
At present, Wicksteed Park nonetheless doesn’t cost for entry, nonetheless it has mentioned that funds will should be raised for this measure to proceed.
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Mr Wicksteed mentioned introducing an entry charge would go “in opposition to what my great-grandfather wished” and deal a blow to native residents in Kettering.
Head of fundraising Allison Waterhouse mentioned the park has proposed a brand new scheme encouraging supporters to make month-to-month donations to assist preserve entry free.
She instructed The Categorical: “We’re reviewing what we’re asking in the meanwhile and it’s actually essential to us to make it doable for everyone so that everyone will help and help us.
“Ideally, for us, we’d simply love folks to have the ability to donate something they will however we can be completely different quantities."
Managing director Kelly Richardson mentioned the hikes to minimal wage have had a "big" influence on the enterprise.
She instructed the newspaper: “Sixteen to 17 12 months olds, the wage price went up 18% in a 12 months and within the final three years, it's over 60%.
“We can not, as a enterprise, cost our clients 60% greater than we did a few years in the past, and but workers prices make up 50% of our value base.
“After all, we need to guarantee everyone who works right here has a good wage, and that's massively essential to us that our workers are supported and pretty remunerated for the work that they do, however the knock-on influence to us from a enterprise perspective is it's an infinite value.”
Addressing the challenges confronted by Wicksteed Park, a Treasury spokesman mentioned: “We’re a pro-business authorities that has capped Company Tax at 25%, the bottom price within the G7, we’re reforming enterprise charges, have secured commerce offers with the US, EU and India and have seen rates of interest minimize 5 instances for the reason that election, benefiting companies in each a part of Britain.
“The tax selections we took on the Price range final 12 months imply that we now have been capable of ship on the priorities of the British folks, from investing within the NHS to reducing ready lists and placing extra money of their pockets with a wage increase for thousands and thousands.”
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