Hi all,
When recently speaking to my Uncle who lives less that 50 minutes drive from Margate, he said the fact that Dreamland was closing is a foregone conclusion.
News has travelled that Dreamland will be replaced with Executive flats, and he said the council is trying to push this through since it feels that city executives who will commute into London for work are far more desirable types that the sort of visitor an amusement park would bring.
Apparently, the council is of the opinion that an amusement park brings "the wrong type of people" into the town!! Hence does not want a park there and apparently will do all it can to achieve this. Whether this is true I am not sure but from what we've seen this certainly seems to be the case.
Obviously, this opinon is complete rubbish also, as flats etc... will NOT bring anyone into the town as Nick & Sarah are trying so hard to point out. The fact that amusement park visitors are "undesirable types" is also rubbish - in it's deliberately run down state this may be true, but if operated for example like Blackpool, or indeed Southport, the majority are either family visitors, or people like myself who are adults and go for a weekend break, then also utilise other facilities in the town such as B&B's, restaurants, theatres and nightclubs.
Let's hope that this is all not true, but I have a sneaky feeling it is. The council also seem to be trying sneaky and underhand tactics to get around the issue of the Scenic Railway being listed. What this all shows is that we need to keep up the fight.
Also, I do have some preliminary planning training, and I would ask, is there not a way of getting this to Secretary of State for an appeal if the council is hell-bent on destruction? I would be grateful if you could answer this Nick as you are a planning consultant. Just a thought....
Thanks,
Rick