‘We just love living here’

Alton village residents talk about living nex to the busiest theme park in the country

SET in the beautiful Staffordshire countryside is one of the busiest tourist destinations in the country Alton Towers. Every year, thousands upon thousands of people visit the world-renowned theme park.

Known for its heart-racing roller coaster rides like Nemesis and Rita, adrenaline junkies flock to the park over the summer months. And there’s only one route they generally use through the small village of Alton.

The village has a population of 2,500 and is surrounded by a canvas of natural beauty with the River Churnet and rolling hills of countryside.

Residents in Alton even include a couple who deliberately moved to the village so they could be near Alton Towers because they love rollercoasters. And having the park on their doorstep.

Kim Greenwood, (above top) aged 55, has lived on the corner of the main road going through Alton since 2004. She said: “Me and my husband initially moved here because we wanted to be close to the park. When we came, it seemed that no-one wanted to live here but now everyone seems to. And the traffic, we are not bothered about because like I said, we love rollercoasters and most people who travel through here are happy, leave no litter and respect the village.”

Chris Rank, aged 36, (above bottom) has lived in Alton his whole life, growing up in the village and now with his own family. He lives with his partner Lyndsey Vincent, aged 39, and their daughter Lucia, aged 2. He said: “It’s not changed a great deal since I’ve lived here.

“It can obviously get bust at times, but we’re well sheltered so don’t really get much of the traffic issues that others may do. We also get free tickets each year to the park, so for our little one it’s great especially with the Cbeebies Land they have their now.”

Yvonne Matthews, aged 77, has lived in Alton since she was a child. She said: “It has changed so much since I was a little girl. The village used to be so small, but now, of course, it’s famous all over the world. I do miss how it once was as it can get very busy in the summer months, but it’s not all bad as the shops and facilities in Alton now make my life a lot easier.”

Janette Pickford, general manager of The Bridge House Hotel and Restaurant in Alton, said: “The theme park impacts on our business greatly where we need more staff in the summer months for all the extra customers.

“We are also part of a great community which helps and living here people forget that there is so much more than just the theme park. There are some excellent walks and castles which we all love.”

Margaret Boot, aged 75, owns Wisteria

Cottage B&B in the village and has lived in Alton for 51 years. She said: “The park ultimately benefits us because I do a bed and breakfast service.

“The village hasn’t changed too much other than the new houses being built. And for people who live away from the main road, the traffic down here doesn’t bother us that much.”

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Properties in Alton went for an average of £444,500 last year, according to estate agent Rightmove. Prices in Alton over the last year were 31 per cent up on the previous year and 25 per cent up on the 2017 peak of £355,214.

The most expensive property sold in the village the last year on Rightmove was a four-bedroom detached house with a large garden and driveway which sold for £585,000. The cheapest was a three-bedroom detached bungalow costing £267,750, boasting a stylish conservatory and large back garden.

There are 63 listed buildings that are recorded on the National Heritage List for England. Of these, one is listed at Grade I, the highest of the three grades, six are at Grade II*, the middle grade, and the rest are at Grade II, the lowest grade, with most of the listed buildings being houses and associated

Property

structures, cottages, farmhouses and farm buildings.

■ Pubs, food, shops and other facilities

Alton residents have a collection of facilities, including numerous pubs and hotels, a Londis convenience, a newsagents, independent businesses, a village hall and several youth centres, including Alton Castle.

The village also has three churches, St Leonard’s, St Peter’s, St John’s and Alton Methodist Church.

Transport

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Alton has direct access to Alton Towers in the north via Farley Lane, where 670,000 people travel to each year with many using the thin, country road and Denstone to the east on the B5032. Cheadle is also within direct access to the west on the same road.

As for public transport, Alton is not connected by rail, but there is a bus route that connects the village to Uttoxeter and Stafford on the X41 Chaserider. The village was once served by the Alton railway station which was opened by the North Staffordshire Railway on July 13, 1849, but it has been closed since January 1965 and is now used as a walking path.

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Me and my husband moved here because we wanted to be close to the theme park

Kim Greenwood

Schools

Alton doesn’t have any secondary schools, however there is a primary school in the village in St Peters Church of England School. In its most recent Ofsted report in 2017,i t was rated as ‘good.’