Inspectors Report - Read it here first!

[Sarah]

Danny you can do lots to help! For a start, you can spread the word amongst your friends and family and get them all to sign up to the Campaign. This goes for all members - please get yourselves out there recruiting because we can never have enough members. The more voices we have, the stronger we will be - and the more difficult to ignore.

I look forward to a Save Dreamland stronghold in Rugeley!

Sarah

[David Ellis]

Is there anything we can do to encourage Thanet Council to act on the report?

The article on the main Save Dreamland site confirms that changing the Local Plan is not compulsory, and given the comments by Councillor Kirby and Chief Executive Mr Samuel it appears that we should be doing something to air our concerns over the Council's recent stance on the report findings.

David.

[porterm]

When I heard TDC's Chief Executive Mr Samuel's comments on last Friday's BBC South East Today's TV news item I was astounded, but sadly not too surprised, by his rather negative viewpoint on Margate's future. To say "Margate is a depressed town" could be likened to a rather famous ex-high street jeweller's remarks about one of its products some years ago. We all know what swiftly happened to that business.

The very same circumstances could prevail here I believe, as to broadcast statements like the aforementioned will hardly enhance the area's image. One surely needs to "talk up" the area to bring in the tourists and visitors. I am very sceptical of this council's tactics, especially after such a slamming independent report.

I do not think I have given any praise to the independent government inspector so far who resided over our appeal meeting last June, but I would hold him in the highest esteem. Unlike the council he seems to be about the only person who could really see a new vision for Dreamland's redevelopment. We can only hope that in the course of time the local council transform their apparent current thinking on this issue.

Martin

[Bob]

Yes Dreamland as a 100% Amusement Parck is certainly not viable, hence the need for a mix of amusement Park with suitable etail outlets. It is the way forward and that also seems to be the view of the council who are now looking to take a sensible way forward. The plans for Residential & Hotel & High Street shopping outlets having been dropped. Food, Souvenirs. This aproach should permit a viable facility.

Knowing as we now do that you are one of the owner's associates your post is actually very interesting, and only partially incorrect. I am pleased to hear that you have dropped your plans for residential, hotel and high street shopping outlets. I was confident enough in Thanet District Council to know that, following the overwhelming results of the Margate Masterplan, they would have steered you away from what you originally planned. The Council would have suffered from a huge loss of confidence from the people of Margate if it had ignored their wishes.

The idea of some leisure retailing on the site, comprehensively developed as part of an upgraded Dreamland (with the profits tied into the Dreamland upgrade via a Section 106 agreement) is also something that we have openly accepted as a compromise way forward.

Your comment that Dreamland is certainly not viable as a 100% amusmeent park flies in the face of what the independent inspector said, though. He said he had been given no evidence that it wasn't viable, even referring to the so-called 'evidence' given to him by the site's owner. He saw through the current state of the site as a management issue, as we have all known for so long.

With a 100% Amusement park it is highly unlikely anyone could be found to run it as it would loose money. A closed Dreamland benefits no one.

I can tell you 100% that a buyer could be found for the entire site. Philip Miller of Southend Adventure Island has told me, and continues to tell me, that his preference is to buy the entire site and operate the whole thing as an amusement park. His Adventure Island, at about half the site of Dreamland, is too small and does not allow him to invest in major rides. He wants to put some big rides on the park.

Just thought I would correct you there, but thanks for clarifying your plans for the site. It is possible that we can work with you depending on:

a) The size and form of the retail development, and how well it integrates with the park, and
b) How the proceeds would be used to improve the appearance of the park and how it guarantees a quality amusement park operation (i.e. not a seasonal travelling fair with a big roller coaster in the middle).

Nick

An interesting comment ! You can find 100% someone to buy the site. Not many people sign blank checks without knowing what they are getting and what they are paying.

I suspect all you have are expessions of interest. ie they may be interested but more probably will not be when they have access to all the information.

[Nick]

An interesting comment ! You can find 100% someone to buy the site. Not many people sign blank checks without knowing what they are getting and what they are paying.

I suspect all you have are expessions of interest. ie they may be interested but more probably will not be when they have access to all the information.

There is only so much I can say on this as we are moving into an area of commercial confidence. What I can tell you is what I told the public inquiry, and the information that Philip made public at the inquiry. The site has been independently valued by a leading national property surveying company. Philip (and I am sure others) would be prepared to pay reasonable market value for it. Read my proof of evidence if you are in any doubt about that. No buyer will pay more than the market value.

The problem the Inspector correctly identified was that Thanet District Council had created speculation and hope value for the Dreamland site. That has partly resulted in the situation that we now find ourselves in. These speculative values are for residential and major retail development. I can therefore also tell you 100% that none of the amusement park operators we have spoken to will pay those prices.

Thankfully the Inspector brought a bit of common sense to the proceedings, something that was singularly lacking in the Revised Deposit Draft Thanet Local Plan.

Nick

[Nick]

I have received a number of emails over the past few days drawing my attention to other forums on which people are discussing the good news. These three are particularly of interest:

http://www.coasterforce.com/cf-info/vie ... php?t=5124

http://www.rccgb.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=1904 (scroll down on this one)

http://www.ultimaterollercoaster.com/fo ... read=24453

Some of these worry me a little as people seem to think that Dreamland is now entirely safe. I have replied to the emails and explained that it is not all over yet. We still have some fighting to do!