
Bosses at Clacton Pier are to reduce operating hours due to the challenging financial climate.
While the attraction has already put policies in place to ride the economic storm faced by so many companies, it’s adopting measures never used before under the current ownership.
Director Billy Ball said – that along with other firms, especially in the leisure and hospitality sector – tough choices are being made across the board.
“Probably the biggest issue is a lack of confidence in the new Government and that leads to uncertainty all round,” he explained.
“Decisions have had to be taken at boardroom level to protect the business going forwards and after almost 16 years of continual investment we have been forced to look at a number of issues differently.
“More than ever it is about cutting our cloth accordingly and while that will not mean redundancies it will have an impact on how we run things.”
Mr Ball said the increase in National Insurance Contributions and the minimum wage will have a significant effect.
“We will not be opening our rides midweek in June for the first time since we bought the pier in March 2009,” he added.

“We will also not be opening the rides next winter for the first time in four years. Where operations are only marginally viable in the situation we are now facing it means we have to be cautious.”
Mr Ball said it will mean more part-time jobs, less hours and also looking at more experienced staff in many cases.
“The differential in pay for younger and older staff is constantly reducing and therefore we will inevitably go for experience if it costs roughly the same. It is a shame as we pride ourselves in being able to give many local youngsters their first step on the working ladder.
“The pier still has the longest operating period of any attraction in the UK, opening 364 days a year, but the hours will be cut as things stand.
“We will only currently invest where we can make efficiencies and in technology which reduces the need for reliance on people.
“This is a big change for myself and my brother Elliot, as we have always been very progressive.”

Mr Ball added that another major concern is the lack of progress with movement on gambling reforms which had cross-party support and were only held up due to the snap election.
“Unfortunately the Labour Government has failed to bring these back to the table and that adds to our lack of confidence; it is the same across our entire sector,” he said.
“Others are making significant redundancies but we are not at that stage thankfully.”
Mr Ball said the gambling laws are in desperate need of change.
“At the moment we are unable to increase prices or the value of prizes in the amusement side and that has been like that for 14 years,” he stated. “However, our costs have increased massively over that period.
“Other business such as shops and supermarkets put up their prices along with inflation but we have to have the permission of Government. We have our hands tied behind our back and it is wrong.”
Mr Ball emphasized that core staff jobs will be retained but there will not be as many seasonal jobs available.
“Tough times call for tough decisions – and ones we would rather not have to make.”