Pictures 24th jan 2009

[jb43]

www.picasaweb.google.com/jbuk44
some pics i shot on cold sat luv margate plz enjoy the pictures take care all of you regards joe boy!

[jb43]

hope u enjoy the pics be nice to hear what u thought of them cheers joe..

[Gary]

Fantastic photos!

Thanks for sharing them

Gary

[porterm]

Good pictures there Joe, if not somewhat harrowing at the same time. I guess the starkness of some of the shots really enforces how sad a condition the former park has found itself. I think most of us here could hardly say that its present presentation was self inflicted.

These shots should, quite perversely, only enforce our ambitions to recreate a future welcoming environment to bring back some joy to visitors and locals alike. Let's all hope 2009/2010 are the turnaround years for Margate.

Martin

[Greg Pryce]

Thanks for posting your pictures Joe.
However optomistic I am, I do find it extremely sad to see Dreamland how it is now, also the rest of Margate for that matter. Especially when there is so much potential.
When you think about it, compared to some other Seafronts, Margates' is not very long but what was/is crammed in there was/is amazing, Shops, Cafes, Arcades, Pubs, a great Beach and to top it all a very Large Amusement Park!....not mentioning all the other local Attractions.
Years ago the Local Council would have been proud to boast all of these things on their doorstep!
As for local businesses in the area trying to survive It's very sad to think how difficult it must be. The very best of luck to them.
The people who run the 'Joke Shop' in the Arlington Arcade deserve a medal! I can't think of worse surroundings to try and run a business in...that shop has been there as far back as I can remember, it's Great!
Any way,( Sorry, I went off on one there didn't I ? )
good to see the pictures Joe
All the Best,
Greg

[Cheryl]

It is the smallness of the seafront that makes Margate 'quirky'. I find the long promenades similar to those at Blackpool rather boring.

I hope TDC and the Dreamland owners make a decision very soon, as with the current trend towards UK holidays, Margate could be a great destination once again, reaping the rewards to it's much needed economy, instead of the money going elsewhere.

The decision making seems so long winded and personally I feel TDC need to apply some pressure now. If something isn't decided within the next few months, I fear we will still be here for another 5 years.

[porterm]

Cheryl - I share your sentiments entirely there. If TDC need any stimulus for movement here, then surely (dare I say it), the Scenic Railway's upcoming 90th birthday next year should be one to savour.

I sincerely hope we will see this main attraction operational once again in her 90th year. Also, with this in mind, what a perfect event to relaunch a new Dreamland Park; the marketing opportunities would be relentless.

On a different tact, I heard that Enjoy England (the former English Tourist Board) are/have been conducting an experiment in association with their website visitors to vote for England's hidden gems. Yet another avenue for potential free promotion for Margate's future tourism, if site redevelopment steps up a gear. (May I suggest we all jump on-line to cast our vote?)

As USA Jim might say, I really do think we need to start thinking outside the box in this crucial year. I have thought of another idea that I think may also assist our current publicity, but I'll keep it under wraps for now.

Martin

[THE ORIGINAL LOOPING STAR]

Hi Guys and Gals

Back again.

I have to say I knew you were up against it but after seeing these photos 'OH MY GOD' what happened to Margate let alone Dreamland. I knew it was struggling but they paint an horrific situation. It seems the loss of one major factor has destroyed everything.

I know how hard you are all trying but guys I really think you need the real thing here and not just a heritage park.

You want margate to be great again you have to get your theame park back to full size and become the Blackpool of the south. You might not like the sound of it but in modern day life this is where the money is and this is where the people who will use it are. Your week long holiday makers who are going to use the park have gone majority of the people who holiday for weeks at a time in UK resorts are not going to be your core market or age group anymore for a theame park. You need to get the younger generations in for long wekends now rather than weeks at a time, Don't kid yourselves they will go to Spain and Greece etc before coming to Margate. They maybe loud and they maybe roudy but it's for two / three days a week for six months of the year and boy do they spend.

Please don't think I'm having a pop or trying to undermine your great work. I have fantastic memories of Margate and Cliftonville, but thats what they are memories. If your going to do this (and I think you will) it has to be done for the way of life of today not to try and return Margate to what it was. It's time to rebuild and replace and just resurrect.


Like I said in my last post I've been in the building industry for a number of years now working for a very large company. The industry and especially the developers are on their knees. I really do believe your time is close. Please don't waste it you have all worked too hard for it.

[Cheryl]

We absolutely need the heritage park. Providing something unique is what will draw people to Margate. Theoretically, the park will be a living museum housing historical rides, moreover, further endangered rides will be added as they become available making Dreamland a real experience for the visitor. The pure heritage of this initiative is the way funding and grants can be secured - an absolute necessity in my opinion.

Of course, the heritage park could run alongside a more 'white knuckle' element; providing an awesome day out and catering for the whole family, from toddlers to teenagers, Aunts, Uncles, Granny and Grandad. But we have to get the heritage park moving first.

There is no reason why Margate can't be the Blackpool of the south. Afterall, they are miles apart and no real threat to each other.

Well, this is my opinion only. Have a great day folks!

[jb43]

Im very sorry if ive upset anyone with my pictures of margate and dreamland that was not my intention to paint grim picture of this once great place, i just thought it would be nice to show few peeps what the old place looks like before it dissapears reagards...

[THE ORIGINAL LOOPING STAR]

Hi jb43

It's not that you have upset me it's just so, so sad to see how the once great have fallen.

I hope Margate does get regenerated and like you I see the news about people holidaying in the uk due to the credit crunch, but how long will it last. Go with the heritage park if you think it's the right way but think beyond the crunch. You must have white knuckle rides because when the money comes back into our pockets, and it will you will still have to convince the people to come.

I have to be honest and say I don't think old rides people did not want to go on when they were in Southend, Rhyl etc will draw enough people in just because they are all together. Yes I will come and most of the people reading this, but how many outside the Dreamland / Margate circle ????????????????????

You may get grants but do't forget you are trying to regenerate Margate as well, not just Dreamland.

I reckon there will be one shot at this and to make it work you will need the whole dreamland site not just a slice of it. Go the way of the Bembom's get rid of that stupid car park for a start and use the whole site to house rides and attractions. (I mean who ever heard of a car park in a theme park itself ? It looks ridiculous) give the paying public full value and they will keep coming back, give them half a park and the battle is lost before you start.

I know all this is easy to say but from what I have been reading you guys and gals have fought long and hard and I do truely believe you will get yor shot, but it will only be one shot if you blow it they will let them build on there for sure.

Keep up the good work, and run down or not I will be dropping in to Margate and Cliftonville at some point this year I just hope it's to the sigts and sounds of Margate and espically Dreamland rising from the ashes.

Cheers All

Take Care

[Nick]

Please note that the 'Heritage Amusement Park' will feature white knuckle rides. Outside of Blackpool it will probably have the biggest rides on the British coast at a traditional park. Please don't see the heritage amusement park as a collection of creaky old fairground rides. That is not what we are building. These are big, permanent amusement park rides from the days when seaside parks were truly spectacular places. We have a USP that will mark us out from the rest.

I like to think of the heritage amusement park as a 'thrilling theme park from the past'. We had a vision/branding meeting today and we are working to change people's perceptions when the detailed proposals are launched later this year.

[Jim Douglas Jr.]

KUDOS on the beautiful new logo. A+

[Nick]

The logo is courtesy of Save Dreamland Campaign member Vincent Lewis.

[THE ORIGINAL LOOPING STAR]

Hi everyone

Back again just reading some of the comments and sorry to go back over old ground but you say the park has white knuckle rides. I have to ask

Where ?

I have looked at the plans and white knuckle rides of the past maybe but probably ones we would all allow our kids to go on today. You say you have a Unique Selling Point

but for who ?

As has been said in some of the news items young people, couples, hen and stag parties thrill seekers all pack Blackpool out on a weekly bassis. Hey even I go with my partner. (Being in the midlands it's easy). So whats going to attract them to Margate if the have a theme park full of old rides, and no matter how you paint it up that's what it is. They have bags of cash to spend and my god Margate needs it but I'm worried they just won't come and if the council have not included it in their plan for 2030 they must also think the same.
Go with the old rides but put some modern ones in there as well use the whole site. Get the mix right like the pleasure beech in Blackpool. Hell they are now charging £20 a person and still packing them in. I don't want to seem the doom and gloom merchant about all this but I just don't want to see you fail after such hard work. I'm the grand old age of 33 so my friends and I fit into that age band where we still do weekends away in Blackpool etc and I have to be honest if Blackpool and Margate were the same traveling time one had the pleasure beech and one a heritage park, I afraid the modern high energy rides would win every time. I just think the old rides are aiming Margate at the wrong crowd. It was built on young people and families visiting in the summer months now it seems to be squaring up for the middle age to old people in the hope they will bring along grand kids etc while thinking of years gone by, and I'm afraid even if they do, they won't support the running of a theme park I'm sorry.

Keep up to great work I want to see Dreamland there just as much as you. I just hope when it opens you have it right and it opens for good because no matter what grants you can get now the charrities / government / lottery will not keep it afloat for ever. I can tell you that from experience. We have a state of the art interactive art gallery up here which eveyone said was a great Idea a couple of years ago. It's just been announced that due to poor public support all of the funding could be pulled on it for next year, meaning it will be back where it started. An empty building. Lets hope the same does not happen to Dreamland.

Anyway like the new logo too.

Good luck

Keep fighting the fight

The Original Looping Star