Joyland Books

The Margate Town Centre Regeneration Company (MTCRC, the owner of Dreamland) is holding an exhibition showing two possible schemes for the redevelopment of Dreamland from Saturday 28 April until Bank Holiday Monday 7 May. The exhibition features two "planning models" of the site and accompanying architectural plans from DLA Architecture. The exhibition is housed in a temporary structure within the Dreamland events site (the same location as the 'Burning Man' event), above the car park. Opening hours are from 11am until 7pm.

Post your comments on the two plans here.

for people who live outside margate i hope someone will be kind enough to let us know what these proposals are (bet its not a theme park)

thank you in advance

The report again repeats that 'compulsory purchase' may be considered... interesting as this outfit is not in any lawful position to do that.

I thought Waterbridge were allegedly more used to being on the receiving end of Compulsory Purchase orders.

I think it was Leeds where they left a building to run down for several years before it was compulsory purchased.

There's a view from Tony Flaig on his "Big News Margate" blog about the exhibition at :

http://bignewsmargate.blogspot.com/search/label/Dreamland

It'll be interesting to see his and other views once they've seen the exhibition.

Just watched the film, wish he was standing for council! He makes some very good and valid points. We all knew that Waterbridge would offer two schemes of what they wanted, unfortunately the Tory leader in Margate seems to be too stupid to see it for himself. I hope that the real fight is about to begin as it seems local opinion is largely being ignored - political parties do this at your peril. If I had a vote in Margate I would avoid the Tories like the plague. Come on Labour, scream at the top of your voices that you will protect Dreamland - you will win!

I thought Tony Flaig's Dreamland viewpoints were very faithful to what the majority of us must have thought on the park's recent seasonal performances (particularly last year's as he stated). Good to know there is still some freedom of speech, although I guess he was not allowed to actually film any of Waterbridge's exhibit material, making his after-visit speech away from their exhibit temporary building.

It's sad, however, to think that this "attraction" will probably be the only thing to greet any potential holidaymakers over next weekend's long Bank Holiday.

Martin

As MTCRC do not appear to have put the Dreamland plans on their website (www.textmargate.com), you can view the plans at low resolution here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/tonyflaig/DREAMLAND

One appears to show the Scenic moved so that it is running parallel to the Marine Terrace, with the rest of the site redeveloped for housing, etc. The other option appears to show the Scenic remaining where it is with a small amusement park behind, with the rest of the site redeveloped.

If anybody has any better images, please post them here or email them to me to put on the News page.

The Save Dreamland Campaign has been giving much thought to the future of Dreamland over the past few months, and will shortly release its own new vision for Dreamland.

Correct meifI'm wrong but the King Cobb plans...

is the scenic in a diffrent postion than I rember?

LOL ya that made me laugh, didn't quite get how the scenic had moved and somehow I don't see much of an amusement park at all! I will be heading over to see it for myself. If only we would have a big more high res pictures to see what most of these "building" are in the picture.

Ian

OH MY GOD!!!! What a disaster, have looked at the plans Nick, and surely they can do better than that. There is no Dreamland, just more bloody housing - but thats no surprise is it.
So the fight continues, but what do we need to do. Don't they hold all th cards now..........
Forget the last sentance, as that defeatist, and thats no way to win, is it.

The thing that concerns me with both these plans is the amount of housing. How many people are going to want to live on top of the Scenic and with the Duke plan a SMALL amusement park?

How long before the council gets complaints over noise problems?

Could this be part of Waterbridges paln to see the end to the lot?

As someone who is not local I can't really see either plans drawing me or many other day trippers in the south east back to the town apart from the odd visit every few years.

This year I've already visited Clacton three times when I hadn't visited the place in about 10 years. Its equal distance to me than Margate but the big difference is they cater for the day tripper. But there beach isn't a patch on the fantastic Margate sands!

These plans are a joke. Remember the councils position on this, that it was to be largely for leisure to draw in tourists. Both plans are nothing more than a housing estate, with a fancy park for children on its doorstep. Every Thanetonian should be up in arms at these ridiculous plans that will do nothing to help Thanet whatsoever. Get this Tory party out of town as soon as possible.

You mean SD members aren't closet housing enthusiasts? But Toby Hunter thought he was doing what the people wanted… Surely he’s not just trying to fill his pockets at the expense of the public. I mean… no way…. Maybe they will be haunted houses, haunted by the attractions of which the town has been robbed.

I guess everyone has their own vision. I did try to present mine a while ago, but my graphics skills resulted in a complete mess. To be honest though it was far closer to the I Dream of Dreamland model than any of the twaddle put forward by the housing developers. In fact as has been said before, it seems that the I Dream of Dreamland model is viable (wasn't it endorsed by Phillip Miller?) and is the sort of think I'd like to see.

I've just been along.


To my mind it seems that the "King Cobb" plan is designed to be so ridiculous that nobody will vote for it (you are given a feedback form on your way in) with the result that the developers will be able to say "There was overwhelming support for the "Duke of York" plan.

And yes, the King Cobb plan involves relocation of the Scenic Railway, including turning it by 90 degrees.

I asked the organisers if they had any printed material that I could take away in order to reflect on the plans, but there was none, and I then asked if the plans were anywhere at all on the internet. Apparently they aren't.


Which seems a little "amateurish" of the developers to say the least.

To be honest, I could see some merits in some of the Duke of York plan, but not enough that I would give it support in its present state.


I will look forward to seeing the Campaign's plan.