Major fire on the Scenic Railway 7th Apr. Suspected arson.

[EAS]

Market value doesn't always have to be given! And valuations won't depend on councillors, thankfully.

But a back to back with a sympathetic new owner would be wonderful...

I think the Scenic was only saved by the fire services from worse disaster - don't think that was planned. I suspect total destruction was hoped for by the arsonsist(s).

So much of the path ahead veers off the main road. It's a long long way yet.

[smilerbaker]

Market value doesn't always have to be given! And valuations won't depend on councillors, thankfully.

But a back to back with a sympathetic new owner would be wonderful...

I think the Scenic was only saved by the fire services from worse disaster - don't think that was planned. I suspect total destruction was hoped for by the arsonsist(s).

So much of the path ahead veers off the main road. It's a long long way yet.

No I understand the council wouldn't value it, they would employ someone to value it, who *could* over value it, or could value it as prime development land *if* the council suddenly gave the go ahead.

Look at the previous fires, they happened at night and totaly 100% destroyed the buildings. This one happens during the day (odd don't you think??) accelerant obviously wasn't spread over the whole ride, the fire brigade get there in storming time, and the ride is saved.

The more I think about it the less I buy that they wanted to destroy it, and a CP is what they want (no bad thing BTW, just feel like we are doing exactly what 'people' want us to do)

In the market place today, the site, with its current restrictions, is worth next to bugger all, a CP solves all there problems with very little grief.

[EAS]

Well conspiracy theories are all very well and I have my own, but we don't know how much accelerant was spread. Maybe climbing the structure would have attracted notice. Certainly the fire seemed to stem from a place which would be perceived as doing most damage, and maybe wasn't too obvious. There are theories too about timing devices which went wrong...

I think a cleared site is one possibility, so that the 'enabling development' had little to support... but then Elvis may well be alive and selling fish and chips in Bridlington.

In reality, this sort of Repairs Notice is a very rare happening indeed - well done Thanet. It may not have to be put into effect, but at least it's there as backup.

[eddiegi686]

It was mentioned in this week's Extra that accelerant was spread on the ride itself (that's how I read it, although that might be implied on their part and mine). If accelerant was spread on part of the ride it might suggest a motive to just damage.

Anyway I'm not too concerned by that, I just think we're very lucky not to have lost the ride completely and sad that it happened, but still trying to be positive.

I don't know how the council meeting went today yet, I had to travel back from Swindon today and so i've been quite busy.

As to the ride itself I'm wondering how it would be marketed before being made operational again, I was disappointed in the past because the park was running and then suddenly everything starts going downhill and then the fire at the waltzers shortly before rides being sold and just the scenic being left. The senic itself is one ride which I think could be great but not on its own, you cannot just stick a ride in the centre of Margate and expect everyone to go on it, it has to be advertised and other things have to be near.... not necessarily a whole park just places to buy food and stuff... and ways of marketing the ride itself and integrating it into Margate perhaps.

[EAS]

The repairs notice was I gather agreed, with curtilage to be decided after counsel's opinion sought.

The Planning Brief has the ride as part of a wider heritage amusement park.

[troy]

So is that MTCRC firmly on the hook to get The Scenic repaired, or else face a CPO ?

[EAS]

It's not a simple path - the council has the option, if no progress is being made, to do the work itself and charge it to the owner, or to put in motion a CPO. However, in order to do that, it usually seeks a 'back to back' agreement with a sympathetic new owner (often a Trust) in order to offload it.

I suspect that the MTCRC will now put into action the repairs. It seems the council has decided an appropriate timescale for those to be carried out to the Scenic is next Easter. With luck, a sensitively designed new station might be part of that, if LBC is applied for and granted. A new workshop will be required, too, as well as repairs to the track. To be 'operational' it will require trains.

As far as this campaign is concerned, it may be better if it didn't do the work in some ways. However, the planning brief is clear, and the 'enabling development' aspect stated, so it's now up to interested parties to thrash out the details.

[cliffc]

Market value doesn't always have to be given! And valuations won't depend on councillors, thankfully.

But a back to back with a sympathetic new owner would be wonderful...

I think the Scenic was only saved by the fire services from worse disaster - don't think that was planned. I suspect total destruction was hoped for by the arsonsist(s).

So much of the path ahead veers off the main road. It's a long long way yet.

No I understand the council wouldn't value it, they would employ someone to value it, who *could* over value it, or could value it as prime development land *if* the council suddenly gave the go ahead.

Look at the previous fires, they happened at night and totaly 100% destroyed the buildings. This one happens during the day (odd don't you think??) accelerant obviously wasn't spread over the whole ride, the fire brigade get there in storming time, and the ride is saved.

The more I think about it the less I buy that they wanted to destroy it, and a CP is what they want (no bad thing BTW, just feel like we are doing exactly what 'people' want us to do)

In the market place today, the site, with its current restrictions, is worth next to bugger all, a CP solves all there problems with very little grief.

Hi

Allthough we know that the fire was Arson we dont know exactly how it was started by this i mean was some one actully there at the time it started lit the match ect and ran, or if as some rumors are to be beleved some form of timing device used to start the fire, then this may have been set incorrectly and may be the fire was ment to start in the middle of the night when discovery would have taken longer thus ensuring if not total distruction a much larger percentage of the ride would have been lost.

Cliff C

[dave771]

It's not a simple path - the council has the option, if no progress is being made, to do the work itself and charge it to the owner, or to put in motion a CPO. However, in order to do that, it usually seeks a 'back to back' agreement with a sympathetic new owner (often a Trust) in order to offload it.

I suspect that the MTCRC will now put into action the repairs. It seems the council has decided an appropriate timescale for those to be carried out to the Scenic is next Easter. With luck, a sensitively designed new station might be part of that, if LBC is applied for and granted. A new workshop will be required, too, as well as repairs to the track. To be 'operational' it will require trains.

As far as this campaign is concerned, it may be better if it didn't do the work in some ways. However, the planning brief is clear, and the 'enabling development' aspect stated, so it's now up to interested parties to thrash out the details.

It was agreed last night to give the powers to issue a repairs notice, which does not mean the council could do the work themselves and charge it to the owner, that would be the case if an urgent works notice was served. The two notices are very different things just to save any confusion.

[EAS]

Here's the committee report:

http://www.joylandbooks.com/scenicrailw ... 642008.doc

That Members delegate to officers the authority to serve Notices under Section 48 (a Repairs Notice) and Section 54 (an Urgent Works Notice) if these are considered necessary to safeguard and effect the repair of the Scenic Railway and, if considered appropriate, also on the Dreamland Cinema building. Officers to agree the specified periods of compliance with the Chairman of the Planning Committee, and report back the agreed periods to the Committee itself.

I wasn't at the meeting so I don't know what was discussed and agreed to serve, or if what was granted was leave to do as officers think fit.

Urgent works isn't making the structure operable of course, it's more about making it secure, really, so it doesn't deteriorate further.

I have no doubt the full details of what the local authority will do will be avialable in due course.

I suspect that MTCRC will hopefully begin the works. A CPO is a long and difficult path for all concerned.

[Paul W]

Dear All,

I had a vision last night. It was of a newspaper headline in the not too distant future. It read:

"PHOENIX RAILWAY: wooden coaster rises from the ashes"

Here's hoping my 'vision' comes true very soon...

Never give up, never surrender!

[EAS]

News report:

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kol08/artic ... e_id=40246

[uvegotmale2000]

nice report

Would be a result if the council did compulsory purchase the land(cant see that happening) and then sell it on

I know 1 person would be willing to buy it,Ithink we all do!!

[troy]

A good column from Tracey Emin in todays Independent

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/co ... 11091.html

No doubt the piece will be criticised as being "negative", but sometimes the truth hurts, and Margate council need to wake up to the widely held perceptions of the town.

Edited to include the correct link ! Duh.

[CW]

Here is the link to Emin's column, personally, I think it is really well written and completely captures the feeling of Margate

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/co ... 11091.html