What happens next?

The Save Dreamland Campaign was launched by Joyland Books in January 2003 and is now supported by several thousand people. This is the place to discuss all aspects of saving Margate's famous amusement park and its iconic , Grade II listed Scenic Railway, Britain's oldest roller coaster.

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What happens next?

Postby mattchewmann » 19 Nov 2005, 10:25

So now we have Dreamland when does all the work start with the cleaning up and the bringing of the big rides that stay there, will they open it for 2006 or will we have to wait, may people of off here who live close to the park could give some help on the clearing up. (BUT ITS ONLY A SUGGESTION) Well done to everyone who helped save dreamland
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Re: What happens next?

Postby Bob » 19 Nov 2005, 13:15

mattchewmann wrote:So now we have Dreamland when does all the work start with the cleaning up and the bringing of the big rides that stay there, will they open it for 2006 or will we have to wait, may people of off here who live close to the park could give some help on the clearing up. (BUT ITS ONLY A SUGGESTION) Well done to everyone who helped save dreamland



You are misunderstanding things. The Inspector has decided the Scenic Railway must stay and the Dreamland site must be predominantly am Amusement park. He has not ruled out some retail in fact he has suggested some retail is suitable.


This in no way though means Dreamland is saved. One has to find someone prepared to opearte the site. This is likely to prove very difficult. Fixed Amusement parks of the size and type of Dreamland are no longer crowd pullers and have a very short season. It will be far from easy to find anyone prepared to tak on Dreamland. It has had several owners in the recen past and all have failed to make money from it. BenBoms invested a lot in the site but financially could not make it work.
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Postby AJ » 19 Nov 2005, 13:37

Again Bob you talk nonsense!
The retail recommended was 'souvenir & craft' as to what you find in any normal amusement park not some huge souvenir & craft village.

Be warned what happens though when you try to alter the mix of shops from what is agrred. Welwyn Hatfield Council was sued £50 million when they snuck through an agreement to relax the mix of retail at what was supposed to be a 'leisure mall' into a 'outlet village'! You might want to let JG know and investigate futher.

They are numerous operates willing to take on Dreamland but the troble is they are willing to pay the going price as an 'amusemnt park' value!

Take a look at Southport they have a long season and are increasing there attendance and are investing regularly. The two sites are as far as size is concerned are very similar. The differnce they have a managemnt with plans for the future! Dreamland could prove to be the 'jewel in the crown' as far as Thanet and even Kent is concerned! What HAS Kent got for anyone unless they are over the age of 50? Kent is a back water that opens up on to Europe it has to wake up and sell itself , but at present it has very little.
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Postby Bob » 19 Nov 2005, 16:48

AJ wrote:Again Bob you talk nonsense!
The retail recommended was 'souvenir & craft' as to what you find in any normal amusement park not some huge souvenir & craft village.

Be warned what happens though when you try to alter the mix of shops from what is agrred. Welwyn Hatfield Council was sued £50 million when they snuck through an agreement to relax the mix of retail at what was supposed to be a 'leisure mall' into a 'outlet village'! You might want to let JG know and investigate futher.

They are numerous operates willing to take on Dreamland but the troble is they are willing to pay the going price as an 'amusemnt park' value!

Take a look at Southport they have a long season and are increasing there attendance and are investing regularly. The two sites are as far as size is concerned are very similar. The differnce they have a managemnt with plans for the future! Dreamland could prove to be the 'jewel in the crown' as far as Thanet and even Kent is concerned! What HAS Kent got for anyone unless they are over the age of 50? Kent is a back water that opens up on to Europe it has to wake up and sell itself , but at present it has very little.


Clearly you have not read the Report. It states quite clearly that Dreamland should remain primarily aan Amusement Park. It equally quite clearly accepts that some sutable retail is acceptable as long as it improves the viability of the park. It gives an indication of the types of retail outlets it feels would complement the amusement park. A small shopping village would certainly fall with the scope of what has been defined as suitable. On the other hand rtail outlests such as Supermarkets and out of town type superstores would not.
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Postby AJ » 19 Nov 2005, 17:26

Again where are you reading this???

I have read the report and do not understand how you have come up with that conclusion!!!
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Postby Bob » 19 Nov 2005, 20:53

AJ wrote:Again where are you reading this???

I have read the report and do not understand how you have come up with that conclusion!!!



Recommendations
107. I recommend:
(i) that no modifications be made to paragraph 8.49 in the RRD in
response to these objections.
(ii) that paragraph 8.50 be modified by deleting the text of the RDD
after the words ‘Holiday destination that is Margate” and replacing it
with the following:
“8.50 The Council’s preference will be for Dreamland to
continue to provide a core leisure facility to underpin the holiday
destination that is Margate. There is a presumption in favour of
retaining the listed Cinema and Scenic Railway on site. The Council
acknowledges that for there to be investment, part of the site may
have to be redeveloped for non-leisure related uses that are
compatible with continued use as an amusement park. However, it
is important that revenue from such development is reinvested into
the provision and improvement of facilities so that the attractiveness
and viability of the park is maintained. To develop part of the site
and not reinvest into the park is not acceptable. This would make
the amusement park less viable and would ultimately lead to the loss
of the whole attraction and therefore this important asset. The
Council will therefore negotiate a legal agreement that will tie the
development of part of the site with the improvements to the
amusement park.”
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Postby dave771 » 19 Nov 2005, 23:15

I totally agree wih AJ you are talking out of your **** ! I have read the report and from paragraphs 59 to 107 you have picked one paragraph that goes slightly towards what you and Godden want on the site ! but the other paragraphs basically say they agree with what the campaign has said all along, and try looking at Blackpool, Southend etc and tell them theres no point having a fun park as they no longer attract enough visitors, you state it would be far from easy to find anyone to take on Dreamland? Phillip Miller at Southend's Adventure Island has already put in an offer to Godden at the sites value as an amusement park but it was not accepted, what you really mean is Godden wants to make a lot of money like most businessmen do and will do whatever it takes to do so, well the report went in the campaigns favour and we shall continue to fight for what is best for Margate and not what is best for Goddens wallet, I could answer any question you throw at me regarding the sites future, the enquiry and the campaign but as you shown on your posts in the past you dont listen, you dont care and dont really want to hear what we have to say so I wont keep bothering to point out the facts as you have made it clear that you really are not intrested.
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Re: What happens next?

Postby Nick » 20 Nov 2005, 09:31

Bob wrote:This in no way though means Dreamland is saved. One has to find someone prepared to opearte the site. This is likely to prove very difficult. Fixed Amusement parks of the size and type of Dreamland are no longer crowd pullers and have a very short season. It will be far from easy to find anyone prepared to tak on Dreamland. It has had several owners in the recen past and all have failed to make money from it. BenBoms invested a lot in the site but financially could not make it work.


Whilst I agree that this report does not mean that Dreamland is saved, the remainder of the above paragraph shows that you may have read, but certainly do not understand, what the Inspector has said. It also appears that you are not aware of what has happened with the Campaign over the past couple of years. You say that it would be far from easy to find someone to take on Dreamland. I have found more than one company. I speak to Philip Miller at Southend Adventure Island on a regular basis, and I can confirm 100% that he still is still entirely committed to expanding his successful empire onto Dreamland. And, you might like to go to the Adventure Island website (www.adventureisland.co.uk) and you will see that the park is open at weekends and holidays right through the winter.

Bob, I suggest that you take a leisurely hour browsing through the archives of this News page. Once up to speed, come back and talk to us again.
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