Neil wrote:I agree that it is often nice to know a little bit about other forum users, and to this ends filling in the profile helps. Apart from anything else it makes it more of a community. That said I don't want dreamgirlz to feel unwelcome, and hope she understands why we are being cautious. Just to reitterate what has already been said the current situation can only be temporary mbe optimistic about the next 3 years, yet the campain aims to secure a longer term future for the site that Margate truelly can be proud of (rather than feeling that an operator is making the best of a bad situation). I agree that we should support the operator. I guess we all agree that the season has got off to a bad start, but hopefully we can begin to put this behind us if it has opened and hope for better luck next year (although I'm sure luck is the wrong word).
Agree with every word.
Dreamgirlz (whoever you are) i'm not negative about the current operators efforts and after looking around the park several times i can see they are making a good effort - i've seen the new signage within the park, the good selection of rides and the way they have used whats there as best they can (seating, kiosks etc)
there is still the feeling that the site owners are using them as pawns to prove the site isn't viable and that is not their fault. i'm sure we all wish them the best for the season and hope that it's enough.
most of the negative comments on this forum are aimed at the inept way our council has dealt with this situation - if when JG annouced his retirement in Jan '03 the council had declared that no development would be allowed and that change of use would not be pemitted, we would have a well run park by a commtited operator by now.
i'm sure Dreamland '06 will be the best it can be given the circumstances but what does the future hold? a bit-part travelling fair with the scenic railway won't enable the many seafront businesses that relied on the visitors to reopen their doors. the amusements on marine terrace are struggling without the support of their neighbour (the reason they arrived in the first place) and the sad truth is that without Dreamland the town is lost.
TDC believe a big white elephant (aka Turner Contemporary) is the answer and will somehow magically turn Kiss Me Quick and Margate Rock into Tate Modern. The people of Thanet feel differently and have let this be known at every opportunity but unfortunately up until now, they have not been listened to.