by Nick » 30 Mar 2003, 11:12
I am sure the Council has received a large number of letters. There will be a further opportunity to get involved very soon, in response to the revised draft Local Plan. This plan contains a substantially changed policy on Dreamland which we all need to object to it if we want to save the park and the ride. Keep your eyes on the website!
As far as the proposal to move the Scenic Railway to Pleasurewood Hills goes, I would make the following comments:
1. The Scenic Railway is a listed building and cannot be moved without listed building consent. There are a number of hurdles to cross before it is removed, which all require the possibility of retaining the Scenic Railway on-site within an amusement park to be explored. The ride's historical associations with the town are also very important.
2. If it were moved to Pleasurewood Hills, then it would no longer be protected by listed building status.
3. If the Scenic Railway is lost, then we almost certainly lose Dreamland.
It is important for our members to know that we have been making some very good progress with the Campaign over the past few weeks. There is increasing support for the retention of the Scenic railway on the park amongst decision-makers and we have serious interest in the park from a major international theme park operator. We are currently working hard to bring a proposal forward, but as I am sure you appreciate this is very sensitive at the moment. There is likely to be an announcement in the next few weeks. In the meantime, proposals to move the Scenic Railway are likely to be damaging to this campaign.
However, as a very last resort, of course we must look at alternative locations for the Scenic, either in Margate or elsewhere. But at this stage in the process when there has been no planning application, nor has there been an application for listed building consent, then this proposal is premature.
Finally, I spoke to the owner of Pleasurewood Hills on Friday, and it looks like there isn't a suitable location on the park. However, I brought to his attention the fact that there is another, smaller wooden coaster at Folkestone (the Runaway Coaster) that is also portable and can be moved much more cheaply. This coaster also desparately needs to be saved, but has no historical associations with any park. (Plus there is no campaign trying and save it!) He was very interested in this ride and is now discussing it with the owner of Rotunda. If people do want to try and save a wooden coaster by moving it, then their time and effort is best spent on this.
Nick Laister
Save Dreamland Campaign