Who will be running Dreamland next year?

[Vince, Charlie and Sam]

I understand that the Webbs will not be back in Margate next year. Is there any news as to who will be taking the Park on?

I really wish the next operator would be offered a deal worth investing in, rather than just another short-term contract.

[Bob]

I understand that the Webbs will not be back in Margate next year. Is there any news as to who will be taking the Park on?

I really wish the next operator would be offered a deal worth investing in, rather than just another short-term contract.

He is not returning because of the poor attendences. Dreamland lost a lot of money this year. It's unlikely that there will be anyone willing to operate it next year other then for a short spell in the high season. People are no longer interested in seaside amusement parks and besides which people no longer go to seaside resorts in any numbers.

[Vince, Charlie and Sam]

He is not returning because of the poor attendences. Dreamland lost a lot of money this year.

How do you know?

[lutonlad]

I understand that the Webbs will not be back in Margate next year. Is there any news as to who will be taking the Park on?

I really wish the next operator would be offered a deal worth investing in, rather than just another short-term contract.

He is not returning because of the poor attendences. Dreamland lost a lot of money this year. It's unlikely that there will be anyone willing to operate it next year other then for a short spell in the high season. People are no longer interested in seaside amusement parks and besides which people no longer go to seaside resorts in any numbers.

He knows because it is him and his crew that charge these tenants high rates, loads of restrictions, i.e no use of tunnel and facilities, and put so many obsticles in the way on purpose so that whoever took on the park could not make it sucesfull, just so bob and co can prove to their little gang and margate council that the dreamland site is not viable. With the right lease and plenty of scope given, and give up on the hope of casinos and sky scrapers dreamland in the right hands would be viable. Its you and your team only that is making dreamland unviable, its about time u woke up and smelt the cofee, and welcome to the real dreamland in question not the dreamland in the clouds you are all living on.

Lutonlad

[Chris H]

You forgot one!

Refusing to turn the dreamland sign on, on front at night.

If it is connected up of course.

[Nick]

He is not returning because of the poor attendences.

Exactly, Bob. Isn't this what we have been saying since this campaign began, that the only solution for Dreamland is an amusement park? Not a travelling fair, not housing, not some supermarket that can be seen in any town in the country. I hate saying "I told you so", but it seems that the longer this campaign goes on, the more that we and the Government Inspector are being proved to be right about Dreamland.

Even if a travelling fair was to be the solution for Dreamland (which in my view it isn't), then the park cannot be operated like it was this year. The fair was hidden away round the back of the Scenic, with the main entrance closed for most of the season and no signage. I know people who visited Margate when Dreamland was open and didn't realise it was open and that there was a fair on the site. When you combine that with the poor selection of rides on offer and the lack of advertising (including this continued resistance to allowing TV cameras onto the site), I am not at all surprised that George Webb doesn't want to come back.

The sort of Dreamland proposition being offered by MTCRC is simply not a sound business model.

[Vince, Charlie and Sam]

The current business model is so transparently geared towards failure that I'm amazed that "Bob" thinks anybody would fall for it.

The most essential requirement for a successful attraction is the offer of a long-term lease- ideally 10 years or more. This is what would encourage the investment needed.

My personal feelings are that TDC should take out a Compulsary Purchase Order against Waterbridge and Godden, as it had to do with the Pleasurama site after the owner deliberately allowed it to fall into disrepair.

[Bob]

He is not returning because of the poor attendences.

Exactly, Bob. Isn't this what we have been saying since this campaign began, that the only solution for Dreamland is an amusement park? Not a travelling fair, not housing, not some supermarket that can be seen in any town in the country. I hate saying "I told you so", but it seems that the longer this campaign goes on, the more that we and the Government Inspector are being proved to be right about Dreamland.

Even if a travelling fair was to be the solution for Dreamland (which in my view it isn't), then the park cannot be operated like it was this year. The fair was hidden away round the back of the Scenic, with the main entrance closed for most of the season and no signage. I know people who visited Margate when Dreamland was open and didn't realise it was open and that there was a fair on the site. When you combine that with the poor selection of rides on offer and the lack of advertising (including this continued resistance to allowing TV cameras onto the site), I am not at all surprised that George Webb doesn't want to come back.

The sort of Dreamland proposition being offered by MTCRC is simply not a sound business model.

The traditional seaside amusement park is just not viable. There is not one in the UK that is not struggling to make ends meet. It's a victim of changing tastes and habits coupled with the very short UK season. The UK holiday market has all but gone and the market for the tradditional fairground rides is now a small niche market. The small market and very high costs mean high prices for the rides.
It may be viable to have a much smaller amesument park on the Dreamland site with other retail & leisure facilities mitatigating the losses the fairground will make. Even on a sunny day in August Dreamland barely breaks even. There is certainly no money to reinvent in new rides. The focus on the redeveloped Dreamland will be on the Pre teen market. This is the largest market in the UK with many parents not liking to take younger children abroad. The costs of the rides for this age range are also about a tenth of the cost. Operating costs are also far lower.

[Vince, Charlie and Sam]

The focus on the redeveloped Dreamland will be on the Pre teen market.

How do you know?

[Alan]

Bob you got that record out again ? play it any more and you will wear it out.

[Zoidstar]

There is not one in the UK that is not struggling to make ends meet.

One word Adventure Island

Ooops sorry that two.

[Nick]

The traditional seaside amusement park is just not viable. There is not one in the UK that is not struggling to make ends meet.

Er...Bob. Go to the Companies House website and download the accounts for Adventure Island (Stockvale Ltd). Then come back to me and tell me that seaside parks aren't viable. In fact, I have it on good authority that Adventure Island is up by 10% this year. Hardly a declining business.

[Vince, Charlie and Sam]

Nick, Bob's an "ideas" man. Don't trouble him with details

[EAS]

I have noticed that once anyone comes back to Bob pointing out that he is talking b*ll*cks, he just goes all quiet. He never answers anything, just spouts stuff which can be countered instantly by anyone with half a grain of commonsense.

We're on to you, Bob... we know that you are the mouthpiece for developers... we know what biased nonsense you are spouting...

And why? So that a bunch of people with no interest in Margate and Dreamland can make a pile of cash for themselves. Including you Bob?

I'm involved with conservation is other ways. I see this over and over - those who want to make a mint buy up sites and buildings, get 'consultants' to write hugely biased reports stating that the buildings are rubbish and any alternative re-use other than the new development will be unviable, allow the sites to run down and become eyesores, a mystery fire or two, local authorities who are in cahoots with them...

Then there are the 'public consultations' like the 'Text Margate' one - an absolute farce, because it pretends it's about Margate as a whole, not just Dreamland - which is in fact the only site the developer owns. Then when people come up with ideas for Margate in general, we will be told that the survey showed that everyone wants these things for the Dreamland site.

But there are times when it all goes pear shaped. There is a call in and a public inquiry and the nasty developers are seen to be the liars and manipulators they are.

It's also becomimg clear to me that Dreamland, with its listed scenic railway and others structures listed as curtilage, is now becoming At Risk... time it went onto the national Register of Historic Buildings at Risk.

[rabbss]

I understand that the Webbs will not be back in Margate next year. Is there any news as to who will be taking the Park on?

I really wish the next operator would be offered a deal worth investing in, rather than just another short-term contract.

He is not returning because of the poor attendences. Dreamland lost a lot of money this year. It's unlikely that there will be anyone willing to operate it next year other then for a short spell in the high season. People are no longer interested in seaside amusement parks and besides which people no longer go to seaside resorts in any numbers.

Christ, you talk such a load of bollocks!
Dreamland may have "lost a lot of money " this year
But people ARE interested in seaside amusement parks ! ive just come back from shutting up my caravan for the winter. what did we do ? took the kids round Fantasy Island before we left .Still open and still a load of people around !
And i enjoyed my #1.60 fish and chips on the beach !