Sandy Beach says 'forget Dreamland and don't live in past'

[Nick Evans]

Regular readers of the Thanet Crimes (sorry, Times) will no doubt have seen the full page article about the future path ahead for the fair island. The esteemed leader of the council Sandy Ezekiel is blabbering on, saying there's no future for Dreamland and those who think differently should get over it. If the park was profitable it would have stayed open.
I think this is a disgraceful attitude and very disappointing for all SDC supporters. Yes, Thanet needs regeneration but he is still missing the point about Dreamland. My view it was profitable in its last season or two, particularly if it had been run properly and seen better investment and marketing - not just shut down in hope of making a quick megabuck or two in a rising property market.
He needs a stern talking to - and quickly. Sarah or Nick, is there any point writing a letter or an email from SDC putting him in his place?
Try following this link or go to www.thisiskent.co.uk/margate/8216-Forge ... ticle.html for the whole inglorious tale. I groaned loudly when I read this - I'm sure you will too.

[DN]

I read this today and it is an absolute disgrace. How can this man claim he knows what is good for the town, and indeed, the whole island. His vision is ridiculously blurred by what is good for him and the council, not the good of the people who have lived in the area and want to see it succeed.

The esteemed council's answer ? First, the monay pit that is the Turner Centre, which i doubt will get many people driving down to see it more than once, as he states people only go to Thorpe Park and the "nearby" Alton Towers once or twice a year.

I have stated many times, over the summer, you see coachloads of people who come to Margate,many probably still think there is Dreamland still there, and imagine thei disappointment when they all end up either on the beach or sitting under the enclosed area near Primark. On my travels around the UK, many people ask where i am from, when i say Margate, the first thing people mention is "Dreamland...Scenic Railway..Big Wheel..Bemboms" etc.

Count the number of times in TV shows such as Eastenders and the like, Margate is mentioned so often, why, even in Corrie years ago, Alma's character went to Margate and had a romance..or One Foot In The Grave, the epsiode is even called "Dreamland" (series 3) and they state Victor and Margaret went on Honeymoon there and Margaret revisited.

It goes to show its a town in peoples mins and hearts, and some blody useless gallery isnt going to draw the crowds, while Broadstairs and Ramsgate get all the glory, and new fourth town Westwood bleed sthe rest of the towns shops dry.

An absolute disgace of a comment by our Council Leader. He doesnt care about the town or its development, its all about a quick buck.

Rant over

[porf]

That seems quite a departure from TDC recent stance.
Looks like Sandy picked up an old speech someone gave him back in 2003.

[porterm]

Rather strange remarks about Margate from somebody, I am quite sure I witnessed voting to enforce timescales for the Scenic Railway's rebuild at the crisis Council meeting last April in the aftermath of the famed attraction's inferno.

However, I am not at all surprised with his, now quite predictable, Thanet descriptives. Why is it the phrase "waxing lyrical" springs immediately to my mind?

The sooner officials of his stature begin to realise the full impact of their policies during most of this decade the better. As someone hinted on the article's readers' feedback, we deserve facilities to benefit all community sectors, and not just the honoured minority.

Ironically, I visited Westwood last Saturday night with friends for a meal at the Toby Carvery. Were it not for my personal appetite to salvage the real Margate, I too doubt if the Westwood "attraction" would really have drawn me. I was visiting my Dad in Herne Bay that afternoon, so a visit to this destination was a pleasant side trip, however, I have still to really view any of its stores!

Martin

[jo.clarinet]

This sort of article is just so disheartening. I really can't understand the thinking which puts the Turner Centre at the very heart of Margate.

I've lived in London since the early 70s, but was brought up in Cliftonville as a child and teenager - and as my family is still there I visit very regularly. DREAMLAND was the heart of Margate, no question about it!

Art galleries such as the Turner Centre might be somewhere to visit as an interesting 'extra' when one is in the area anyway - in the same way as the Margate Caves, Shell Grotto and Tudor House always were. But I really can't imagine families from London saying 'Ooh, let's go and visit the Turner Centre today' when there are so many galleries and exhibitions in London itself - whereas a day out at Dreamland, combined with some time on the beach, a walk along the pier and wandering round the shops, is (or rather, was) a real event and treat for the whole family.

I went with some friends to Adventure Island in Southend last summer - it was packed out with families enjoying themselves, and the comparison with Dreamland as it is today made me feel so sad.....

[Cheryl]

Are we ever going to get a straight opinion from this Council?

When do the people of Thanet get the chance to vote off this self important, ******** *******?

I suppose when questionned he will spew out that usual phrase, so familiar 'I was misquoted' agh!

As for him saying Margate is too close to places like Alton Towers, I think someone should send him a map of Great Britain - it is approx 250 miles away!

When I checked the link to this spoken garbage, there were 12 replies to it - check them out, not one supported him.

[Jim Douglas Jr.]

Please, someone post the address to this Sandy fellow.
I'll send one of my letters to him and CC the rest of the council.

[porf]

JDJ/Kyle:
A brief post as I am currently stuck in a hotel with my phone for internet access
Sandy's contact details :
http://councillors.thanet.gov.uk/sites/ ... fault.aspx

[Neil]

Disheartening comments. At the moment he hasn't revealed a great deal of his vision. It's good to hear that he wants to increase employment, raise education etc, but I'm not entirely clear about how TDC will achieve this.

As Cheryl says, Alton Towers might be further away than Mr Ezekiel implies. While I'm sure he's given this considerable thought, I hope he can be pursuaded to change his mind. With the closure of the Rotunda in Folkestone there wouldn't be a traditional amusement park or theme park for a considerable distance (Dickens World is an excellent and enjoyable attraction, but a different kind of experience). I believe it would be fantastic attraction for Thanet.

The art galleries may please some people, but they aren't for everyone. I think an amusement park would compliment the creative quarter very well. In fact theme park's tend to be very creative in coming up with themes and concepts. Maybe Dreamland could be a second creative quarter.

Given that Dreamland closed in 2003 the rate of progress is slightly disappointing.

[EAS]

Sorry haven't been around for a while, trying to catch up on the news section and read the good part about the plans for Dreamland, only to then click on this news story! Unbelievable!

Can he be reported to the Standards Board I wonder??!!!

[Alan]

Hi, I think he is now showing his true colours, he was just trying to side track us !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Alan

[cliffc]

Hi

Reading his comments shows just how far removed elected representertives are from what the people actually want.

Yes people are only going to visit Thorpe Park once or twice a year partly as a Theme Park is normaly a Family day out and costs a fair amount, but families would visit Margate more if there was something for them to do when thay got there.

An example of this I live in the North East and we have Flamingo Land and Lightwater Valley close by but I would not visit them more than once in a season and some times not even that.

But I will visit Scarbrough, Bridlington and even Blackpool several times a year the latter 2 more so as thay are only an hour or so's drive away and when visiting I use the attractions in the resorts, as well as attracting people from longer distaces it should be rememebred that sea side towns like Margate and the others mentioned above provide a good cheap day out for people from the local and surrounding citys and towns as well, most people living close to a sea-side town would visit several time a season, and spend money in the many attractons that are on offer.

The only reason Dreamland was not profiterble was because its owner did not want it to be. Not because it cannot be.

Cliff C

[blue]

Well, this is my first post after reading this board for ages.

Im so angry, I had to join up and have my say!

These comments are so wrong its unbelievable. Margate always has been a magnet attracting people from the Southeast. Generations of families have visited the area not just to go into Dreamland, but having the place always helped.
You only have to ask people "when was the last time you went to Margate" and I bet most have only been once, sine the place closed!
Im 40, and as a teen, I remember getting the 6am bus from Maidstone to Margate (via C/bury arriving at 9am) for a good day out.
How many people watch Only Fools and look at Dreamland with misty eyes? How many wish for those times to come again?

So, this person thinks Margate would be a better place without a new Dreamland? Well, it hasn't been since it closed!

So, we are living in the past? If that's a past that saw Margate thrive, had a good summer turnover, and helped local business earn a good income, then yes, its a past worth trying to obtain again!

How many people are going to take their kids to the new Turner Contemporary gallery? How many people will endure a 3 hour bus trip to go and look at the art?? I might go and have a look, but only if I was passing, I wouldn't make a special trip, unlike Dreamland.

If Margate wants to become a higher class area that attracts a "better class" visitor, then don't expect huge numbers, and lots of money flowing into the bank accounts. Does he really think the type of people who make special trips to art galleries are going to sit on the beach, or go into the sea front cafes??

Support the bread and butter business, and stop living in a dream world of being a Knightsbridge.

[AJ]

Well, this is my first post after reading this board for ages.

Im so angry, I had to join up and have my say!

These comments are so wrong its unbelievable. Margate always has been a magnet attracting people from the Southeast. Generations of families have visited the area not just to go into Dreamland, but having the place always helped.
You only have to ask people "when was the last time you went to Margate" and I bet most have only been once, sine the place closed!
Im 40, and as a teen, I remember getting the 6am bus from Maidstone to Margate (via C/bury arriving at 9am) for a good day out.
How many people watch Only Fools and look at Dreamland with misty eyes? How many wish for those times to come again?

So, this person thinks Margate would be a better place without a new Dreamland? Well, it hasn't been since it closed!

So, we are living in the past? If that's a past that saw Margate thrive, had a good summer turnover, and helped local business earn a good income, then yes, its a past worth trying to obtain again!

How many people are going to take their kids to the new Turner Contemporary gallery? How many people will endure a 3 hour bus trip to go and look at the art?? I might go and have a look, but only if I was passing, I wouldn't make a special trip, unlike Dreamland.

If Margate wants to become a higher class area that attracts a "better class" visitor, then don't expect huge numbers, and lots of money flowing into the bank accounts. Does he really think the type of people who make special trips to art galleries are going to sit on the beach, or go into the sea front cafes??

Support the bread and butter business, and stop living in a dream world of being a Knightsbridge.

Great first post 'blue'! I'm right there with you.

[Sarah]

Hello all

Sorry it's taken several days to answer:

Sarah or Nick, is there any point writing a letter or an email from SDC putting him in his place?

I've worked on little else since Wednesday morning to be honest! I can promise you all that Sandy's comments aren't a true reflection of what's happening in Margate. Which makes them all the more infuriating.

Given that Dreamland closed in 2003 the rate of progress is slightly disappointing.

The rate of progress was painfully slow for what felt like donkey's years. It often felt like we were going backwards, but things are moving at the moment, actually really quickly. That seems quite a departure from TDC recent stance.

Looks like Sandy picked up an old speech someone gave him back in 2003.

That's how it feels to me too. He's totally out of step and these comments could jeopardise months of hard work. He should apologise. He won't. Which tells you all you need to know really.

I've been talking to the Thanet Times about our response, which is extensive and will appear next Tuesday.

Keep the faith folks. Times have changed; the Dreamland project is going to be the biggest thing that's happened in this town for, erm, ever. The only person living in the past is Cllr Ezekiel.

Sarah