Warwick Castle Operators Fail To Weigh Up The Risk

After a lengthy legal battle, an entertainments operator, who supports and operates well known attractions such as Madame Tussauds, Legoland, Alton Towers and the London Eye, has received a £495,000 penalty following the 2007 fatal fall of George Townley at Warwick Castle. This figure represents £145,000 in costs and a fine of £350,000 which accounted for 11.5% of the operator's most recent pre-tax profits.

Mr Townley had been crossing a dry moat into the 900-year-old castle when he tripped over a 39cm high parapet wall and fell 4.3 metres into the moat below. He died later in hospital due to head injuries. The risk of such a fall was flagged to the operator in 1995 as part of a Public Entertainment Licence condition, and then again in 2003 in a general risk assessment.  Warwick District Council argued that not only had there been a failure to pass this information on to managers (including the health and safety manager), but there had also been a failure to carry out