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IT'S MY DREAM

Millionaire Miller's ready to take on Godden's Dreamland

Sotuhend businessman Phillip Miller says he is keen to take over Margate's Dreamland.

I think the council has to know what the public wants on that site.

IT'S MY DREAM

Millionaire Miller's ready to take on Godden's Dreamland

Southend businessman Phillip Miller says he is keen to take over Margate's Dreamland.
The millionaire, credited with transforming the Essex seaside resort's fun parks, has met Thanet council leader Sandy Ezekiel, and cabinet.
He said "I've met and spoken to Thanet council on a number of occasions and thought it would be good to invite them to Southend to Adventure Island and we had a nice lunch together.
"I think they were impressed."
The father-of-seven has long had his eye on the Dreamland site on Margate seafront and even has draft plans of what he would like to do there. "It needs a lot of money spent on it," Mr Miller added. "It's been closed for so long and it's a lot harder to resurrect something from the dead than if it was fully up and running.
"Each day that passes means it's going to cost more."
Mr Miller had recently returned from a trip with members of the British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions, which Dreamland boss Jim Godden also belongs to.
"I saw him but didn't talk about his park," Mr Miller added. The Southend man says he will not be putting in a bid for Dreamland, but is still keen to get involved there.
Miller 'ideal man' to run Dreamland site'
"The ball's in Thanet council's court.
"It is acting as a facilitator, and if it can come to an arrangement with the developers whereby a theme park remains there and it wants me to come in then so be it."
A delegation from Thanet council visited Mr Miller's Adventure Island a fortnight ago.
Leader Cllr Sandy Ezekiel said he was hoping a meeting between Margate Town Regeneration Company chairman Toby Hunter and Mr Miller could be arranged.
Speaking in last week's Isle of Thanet Gazette, Mr Hunter said he would welcome a meeting with Mr Miller.
He said: "If Phillip Miller wants to set up something like Adventure Island on Dreamland, that is fantastic."
He added the company would not decide what to do with the land until an eight-month public consultation - due to start next month - is finished. Dreamland was brought last year by the Margate Town Centre Regeneration Company, which is owned by Waterbridge, with previous owner Mr Godden retaining 40 per cent share. Save Dreamland Campaign leader Nick Laister said Mr Miller would be the ideal operator for the site.
He said: "He has run a very similar site in Essex very successfully.
"I am not sure how it would be achieved. There needs to be a meeting between Mr Miller and the owners of the site.
"I am very pleased the council went to see him. If Mr Miller took over that would be fantastic.
"In order to invest in the site there would need to be a very long term lease, or for him to own the free-hold.
"It is very much down to the owners now."
Gone: The big wheel has been taken down and, inset, Toby Hunter said he would welcome a meeting with Mr Miller.
On Monday engineers removed the big wheel from the seafront.
A spokesman from the company said he was unable to comment as to whether the 148ft attraction would be coming back.
He said "If it doesn't come back there will be something equally spectacular going up in its place.
"I don't know at this stage whether it will be a ferris wheel."
The ferris wheel was put up at the end of March and planning applications had been submitted to Thanet council last week.
At the time of going to the press Mr Hunter was unavailable for comment.