New website/Work starts on the Cinema building

[Cheryl]

This is absolutely fabulous news and what a christmas present to all of us Save Dreamlanders. It seems, finally, that Margate has something to celebrate; the beginning of new Dreamland and the opening of the Turner Gallery. Happy 2011!

[Vince, Charlie and Sam]

While the cinema restoration is of course good news, I ought to point out that as far as I am aware no agreement has been reached about any other part of the site other than the cinema at the current time. I personally feel it is just a little too soon for the mood to become celebratory.

[Vince, Charlie and Sam]

Hopefully the Dreamland project will now start receiving a little more media attention as of late only one certain other attraction, scheduled to open on 16 April 2011, appears to rather hog the limelight somewhat.

The consensus of local opinion is that the Turner Centre will be converted into luxury apartments within five years of opening and the inevitable financial failure thereof.

Having said that, we are notoriously cynical in Margate. Cynical, but prescient...

[Neil]

I used to be a regular poster but now I tend to ‘lurk’. It’s not that I’ve stopped caring, but I don’t feel like I have much worth contributing these days.

Anyway, Vince, Charlie, Sam, it’d be much appreciated if you could keep us posted with construction pics. Living in Banbury I don’t get to Margate very often.

Congratulations to everyone who’s worked hard to get us this far and I hope you all have a Merry Christmas. It does feel like the campaign’s not so essential as it once was. There was a time when many of us were sending letters to different politicians, whereas that doesn’t seem important right now. And any donations we send are likely to seem insignificant compared to the large grants the Trust secured. If the campaign does need any more help let us know. If not, maybe we can finally all meet up in a couple of year’s time and have some rides together. I’ve only met a few of you, but it feels like I know many more.

As Vince, Charlie, Sam says, the campaign may be called to action once again if problems arise, but this year has been very positive with some decent events, quite a bit of media coverage and the new website. So thanks to the campaign and the trust, and here’s to another successful year.

[Cheryl]

Sorry if I have jumped the gun, just put the corks back into the champagne. I thought the scenic was being starting on in early 2011 and not just work on the cinema, looks like I have misread the news page then.

[epiclyawesome]

Sorry if I have jumped the gun, just put the corks back into the champagne. I thought the scenic was being starting on in early 2011 and not just work on the cinema, looks like I have misread the news page then.

it says february/march for the scenic ...

[Nick]

I can confirm that we will be able to start work on the Scenic Railway early next year. We are currently awaiting the quotes to come in from various companies (including some very experienced wooden coaster builders), with selection of the contractor by the end of January. Work should start shortly thereafter. This process was delayed slightly due to uncertainties on the land transfer, but now that things are progressing in that area we are confident enough to start spending the money.

This is public money so we have to have all sorts of checks and balances in place, and regular consultations with the funding bodies.

We will also be starting restoration work on the cages shortly. This will be followed by work on the rest of the amusement park.

[porterm]

Great shot there Vince; do you happen to have any of the Scenic as I noticed you're also somewhat snowbound at present like us? I can't remember ever seeing a wintry shot of the Scenic, but then I could be wrong. (Also, I still cannot seem to master posting photos on here - do you click on "Img*" first?) - I'm rather inept at this 21st century stuff).

I'd love to make it along to the pinball arcade event too really but don't think I'll make it unless they extend its stay in town - such bad luck with the current awful weather. Another year when I haven't managed to get along to Sarah's Santa Shell Grotto!

Martin

PS Great to see some physical project activity presence now. Like others have said I'd like to help in whatever way I can, as required.[/img]

[Nick]

The Save Dreamland website now has a photo gallery which includes photos of activity on the Dreamland site over the past few days:

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

We will keep updating this page so put it in your Favorites!

[Vince, Charlie and Sam]

Great shot there Vince; do you happen to have any of the Scenic as I noticed you're also somewhat snowbound at present like us? I can't remember ever seeing a wintry shot of the Scenic, but then I could be wrong. (Also, I still cannot seem to master posting photos on here - do you click on "Img*" first?) - I'm rather inept at this 21st century stuff).

I don't but will try later, if I can get out....

To post a pic, the easiest way is to upload it to Photobucket then simply copy the IMG code which appears below the pic you have uploaded when you hover your cursor over it, see the screenshot below. Then just paste that into your message.




To post a pic from the net (make sure it is not copyrighted, experiment with my pic below if you want), right-click on the picture, then left-click on "Copy image URL". Paste that into a message, it will appear like this and will become a clickable link in your post...

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b305/ ... and002.jpg



To make it an image which appears in your post instead, left click, drag your cursor over the url to highlight it in blue, then click the IMG button, and it will become wrapped in image tags, and look like this......




This does not appear as a pic, because I have inserted a space into it (in the word Photobucket) and this has broken the link. However if I remove the space....




Will be great to see work start on the Scenic Railway, will post pics when I can. Again if volunteers are required on the restoration I will put my hand up.

[aweber1us]

Hi is the old ballroom were the inside Dodgem use to be?

[dave771]

If you go on Google Earth, the ballroom is the rusty roofed building on the left alongside Arlington car park. The indoor Dodgems were under the longer blue roofed building in the Bembom years. You can see the original ceiling where the dodgems used to be in the new photo galleries.

[vann98]

Wasnt the ball room some kind of aircraft hangar or somthing originaly?
Anyway Its great to see some kind of work happening over at dreamland. I was beggining to lose hope.

Will any work be happening soon like removing things which the "old dreamland" left behind?
for instance the huge blue dreamland welcome sign which is falling apart on the cinema building or some of the old signage on the buildings and cinema itself?

[kevinashe]

the cinema could go for a similar idea to boness hippodrome.It shows classic films along with silent and black and white right through to modern films.This was also a restoration of scotland oldest purpose built cinema and although ive not been yet i would like to go in the near future

[Jim Douglas Jr.]

There you go, Bob.
We win.
You lose.