Drunken posts eh Harvey, that could end in tears...
Nevertheless, UC, you should assert some very good evidence that it is likely to be true before proclaiming it is. You've come up with a few reasonable arguments, but these have been overwhelmed by your almost fanatical relish in dashing the expectations of other users. No serious member has suggested launched woodies are likely (just that the concept is plausible - which it is) but you seem adamant that these plans are real (which is debatable) as opposed to whether or not these plans are plausible (which is clearly the case).
So, you need to ask yourself:
Is this design consistent with known facts?
Well, it shows a coaster layout, and the indoor switchbacks, which are not unique, certainly allow plenty of potential, as well as the fact that the trains are not revealed yet, allows for the world first concept to be realised.
The short length suggests it might not be particularly thrilling, but the indoor section could heighten the potential thrill. Besides, "thrilling" is a very subjective measure that's hard to judge.
All in all, this means that this ride could be built as shown, not contradict anything that has been said, and still be a hit with the general public (the latter two being Alton's aim).
Regardless of this though, anyone creating fake plans would realise the above, and create plans that were plausible. Therefore, plausibility does not equate to likelihood. Likelihood is dependent on the circumstances from which the source originated.
Why would Alton Release plans this early, and why to the ECC?
Planning permission will be (or not as the case may be) granted in March as confirmed by Alton's MD in a radio interview last month. Thus I'd be surprised by any official plans released before then in case permission is not granted.
Also, there is a question as to where these plans have come from. Are we to believe that ECC just happened to be in the area on the off season and these plans just fell into their lap? Perhaps Alton e-mailed them over, but then I'd expect a better drawing from Alton, who have a £12m investment to show off!
Furthermore, I'm surprised Alton Towers allowed ECC to see their plans, I would have thought that RCCGB or one of the dedicated Alton Towers websites would have been a more appropriate release platform, rather than a slightly archaic (if well repsected) club, which has had no previous affiliation with Alton Towers.
If publicity is the aim, then why not send out the plans to multiple sites? I'm sure that someone from Towers Times would have been interested in these plans, same for all the other coaster groups that attended Corkscrew's last day.
Regardless, the overwhleming need is surely for Alton to have confirmed plans before bleating about them, they would look very stupid if these plans were rejected...
Alton have a history false plans, could this be one?
Speaking of confirmed plans, we've all seen grand designs of rides that never have and were never intended to make the light of day at the towers. I would be disappointed if Alton didn't try and throw us off the scent somewhere along the line.
There is definitely merit in not believing anything that isn't officially confirmed by the Towers, and whilst genuine information does often leak out before an announcement, it doesn't normally leak out this early.
However, this all assumes that Alton released these. There is very little narrative on the ECC website, just a picture concerning the ride is all I could see. No further explanation of whether these plans are leaked from staff, from the council planning office, from hearsay or just idle speculation. I'd like to know how the originator of these plans came up with the design; until then these plans could be anything, not least an idea of what certain parts of the ride are like. But enough so that ECC can claim they had the correct plans as the (otherwise completely different) ride might end in a reverse helix between two switchbacks.
What are the motives for posting this picture?
The ECC is a very highly regarded name, but that doesn't mean that they are above suspicion or that they might tarnish their name accidentally. These plans would be a great way to increase traffic to their site, and to potentially increase subscriptions to first drop magazine, which is a significant source of revenue, even to an obstensibly not-for profit site. It certainly seems poor form to stick a plan up without any explanation and then claim that half their website is down...
So in summary, the ride is plausible, but if it was a hoax, and a good hoax, it would be necessary that it is plausible that the design is correct. The niggling doubt arises from the fact that the plans have been published without any narrative or explanation of the source, thus leading to doubt about the validity that the plans have come from a close source to Alton Towers, or from Alton Towers themselves.