Heights of Abraham responds to parents’ cable cars criticism
DERBYSHIRE family attraction The Heights of Abraham has been criticised by parents over claims it operates its cable cars unsafely.
The tourist attraction in Matlock has received TripAdvisor reviews claiming that the cable car experience is a significant health and safety hazard.
Parents’ comments centred around entering and leaving the cable cars, particularly with a pushchair.
Because the cars are not stopped, only slowed, to allow people to enter and exit them, visitors have said they were rushed on and off, which felt dangerous, especially with pushchairs and small children.
In September 2021, a TripAdvisor user said: “If you planning to take a baby there or someone in a wheelchair, don’t.
“They don’t stop the cable car. I got the wheel trapped and they didn’t even stop it. A major health and safety risk.
“The manager said if we asked, they would stop it, but when we asked they still didn’t stop they just rushed us on and off.
“Management was not helpful at all, he said the cars can stop easily they just don’t stop them for prams.
“If anything I should take this further because of the risks involved.”
Another user voiced similar concerns during the same month and wrote: “Very bad experience with the cable car.
“Took baby there and was told by a member of staff they would stop the car to allow us access on and off with the pram, which they did when we got on the car.
“However when we came to exit we asked to stop the car and they told us no and rushed us off. We then witnessed them stop if for the next car. We queried why they did not stop and they stated they do not stop for prams. I feel this is a big failing and unsafe.
“This then happened on the way down, they rushed to get us on and off even though we asked them to stop. I don’t think this is safe or acceptable especially as they said the cars are easy enough to stop.
“Would not recommend for babies or pushchairs for this reason.”
Responding to these claims, a spokesperson for the Heights of Abraham said that company policy is to stop when it is necessary to do so. They claimed that video footage of the aforementioned visits had been reviewed and it was concluded that management did not put any visitors in danger with their decision not to stop the cars.
A spokesperson said: “We take health and safety very seriously.
“We can assure everybody that there is absolutely no risk of danger getting on and off either by foot or with a pushchair.
“Essentially there’s a man in a control room monitoring the getting on and getting off process, as well as two other people who individually monitor getting on and getting off on the platforms. So at no point is anybody left to their own devices.
“The Heights recognise that it is an unusual environment...and some people do get a little bit flustered by it, but that’s why the team are there to make sure they get on and off safely.”
The company strongly disputes any claims that the cable cars do not stop for wheelchair users, and wanted to assure visitors that they “absolutely do”.
The Heights of Abraham is currently closed to the public but will be reopening on February 11.