Dreamland The End

[Bob]

Whilst it would be nice to see a positive outcome from this everything I have seen ans heard to date is not positive.

Presenting a case to a planning commitee is meaningless unless you have a way of implimenting that plan. I have seen no data to support how that plan could be financed and implimented. The first problem is the land has been sold.. The strong impression I get is the save Dreamland Campaign is run by a small group of committed people but without the business & financial backing that is needed without that Dreamland will just go to the highest bidder.

[Nick]

I too support Vince. I don't think that personal attacks on Mick - who I know is one of Dreamland's most passionate supporters - is the answer. However, if members feel that the Council is letting the town down in any way, then they should write to them or participate in the new Local Development Framework that will shape the town's future.

We are doing everything we can to make the Council aware of the need to retain Dreamland through the Local Plan Inquiry and other consultations. The results of the Margate Masterplan consultation last year was overwhelmingly in support of the retention of Dreamland. I think our message is now beginning to get through.

We know the people of Margate want to retain Dreamland. We know that visitors to the town want it to be retained. We know that operators want to acquire the park. Therefore the only reason that Dreamland's future is so insecure is because of its potential value as a development site. Its value is now way beyond what any theme park operator could afford to pay. Most councils around the UK have policies in their local plans to protect their main tourist attractions. Thanet's draft local plan did have such a policy until early 2003. I am confident that if this policy is reinstated, and the Council stands by its policy, then Dreamland will have a long and very exciting future. I really do believe that this will have far reaching benefits for the town - I have seen this happen in other seaside towns.

If people want to be consulted by the Council about the future of Dreamland, you should write to:

Principal Planner (Strategic Planning)
Policy and Strategy Service
Thanet District Council
P O Box 9, Cecil Street
Margate
Kent CT9 1XZ

Ask to be consulted on the Thanet Local Development Framework.

If you need any help or advice, please email me: nick@savedreamland.co.uk.

Nick

[Bob]

Just Campaigning to the Council though will achieve nothing. It needs a sound viable Business Plan and with backers with the financial support to deliver that plan.
You can campaign to the Council as much as you like but without a viable plan you are on a hiding to nothing. Tough maybe but its the truth.

[Nick]

Just Campaigning to the Council though will achieve nothing. It needs a sound viable Business Plan and with backers with the financial support to deliver that plan.
You can campaign to the Council as much as you like but without a viable plan you are on a hiding to nothing. Tough maybe but its the truth.

The Campaign doesn't have a business plan because that is not what we are about, nor do we have financial backing. The important thing is that we are working with well-established theme park operators who have business plans and the financial backing to acquire Dreamland and invest in the park's infrastructure and attractions. These operators have made serious offers for the park, and their offers have been turned down for the reasons I set out in my previous post. For example, I can tell you that we have been working very closely with the owners of Adventure Island theme park, one of the UK's most-visited tourist attractions. They have undertaken a detailed feasibility study and produced a business plan for Dreamland. I have seen this document and it is very impressive. We presented this evidence at the recent public inquiry. And I can assure you that decision-makers in Margate know that there are genuine operators with the required financial backing to completely regenerate Dreamland (and transform Margate's seafront). If we didn't have this support from industry leaders, we would be wasting our time with this campaign, and I doubt we would still be here today.

If you go to our news page and read some of the background to the Campaign, you will see that this is the case. Or alternatively, visit this page:

http://www.joylandbooks.com/scenicrailw ... anreps.htm

then scroll down to the April 2004 document. This will fill you in on the work the campaign has done on financial viability, etc.

So, in my opinion, we are most certainly not on a hiding to nothing. However, if you think that we have missed something, and you can help us put it into action, then please let us know.

Nick

[Lou]

The results of the Margate Masterplan consultation last year was overwhelmingly in support of the retention of Dreamland. I think our message is now beginning to get through.

We know the people of Margate want to retain Dreamland. We know that visitors to the town want it to be retained. We know that operators want to acquire the park. Therefore the only reason that Dreamland's future is so insecure is because of its potential value as a development site.


Nick

I really think that local people need to know the closure of Dreamland is not a forgone conclusion. Many people I speak to think it is!! Nick, if the above was in all the local papers in letter format, people would realise
we are still fighting and they can join us. Its giving people the awareness that there is a choice and then the tools to be able to do something about it!