Easter Holiday Weekend

[Alan]

Hi All,
Good Friday rendered our family outing to Margate due to the gorgeous weather. On the seafront there were not many visitors compared to last year. The Dreamland car park set the scene of desolation, the park empty, miserable and deserted which left the SCENIC Railway looking forlorn. It was easy to imagine how out of place it would look amongst new homes and shops.No mention in the visitors centre re this years opening of Dreamland at all. Local buisinesses and traders although working hard and doing their best to attract custom ie Fish and Chips for one pound and twenty five pence were obviously struggling without Dreamland open. Does not Thanet Council care about its responsibility to its seaside heritage, its residents and visitors.

In vivid comparison on Saturday we travelled to Dymchurch for a ride out and viewed how families with small children were enjoying the little funfair on the seafront. It appears more lively than Margate,and compared to Folkstone, well its seafront looks a mess, uninviting and tatty. The JG arcade and crazy golf were open, as we briefly visited the arcade and spotted Barry Moss working there.The facilities were appalling, no seats on the ladies toilets and the bathroom dirty and run down.

Southend on Easter Sunday, the holiday season in full swing and our family joined Martin Porter at Adventure Island with so many others. The rides and other attractions were being enjoyed despite the overcast and cold weather. This is how Dreamland should be for everyone in Margate, The whole park looked attractive, not a concrete slab. There are flowers and trees, plants arranged in beds all over the park. The security enabled us to feel our daughter was safe with ticket and wristband offers for future visits well advertised and available..

Alan

[Bob]

Hi All,
Good Friday rendered our family outing to Margate due to the gorgeous weather. On the seafront there were not many visitors compared to last year. The Dreamland car park set the scene of desolation, the park empty, miserable and deserted which left the SCENIC Railway looking forlorn. It was easy to imagine how out of place it would look amongst new homes and shops.No mention in the visitors centre re this years opening of Dreamland at all. Local buisinesses and traders although working hard and doing their best to attract custom ie Fish and Chips for one pound and twenty five pence were obviously struggling without Dreamland open. Does not Thanet Council care about its responsibility to its seaside heritage, its residents and visitors.

In vivid comparison on Saturday we travelled to Dymchurch for a ride out and viewed how families with small children were enjoying the little funfair on the seafront. It appears more lively than Margate,and compared to Folkstone, well its seafront looks a mess, uninviting and tatty. The JG arcade and crazy golf were open, as we briefly visited the arcade and spotted Barry Moss working there.The facilities were appalling, no seats on the ladies toilets and the bathroom dirty and run down.

Southend on Easter Sunday, the holiday season in full swing and our family joined Martin Porter at Adventure Island with so many others. The rides and other attractions were being enjoyed despite the overcast and cold weather. This is how Dreamland should be for everyone in Margate, The whole park looked attractive, not a concrete slab. There are flowers and trees, plants arranged in beds all over the park. The security enabled us to feel our daughter was safe with ticket and wristband offers for future visits well advertised and available..

Alan

I have not been to Margate for a few years but even then Dreamland was rundown dirty and tacky as was much of the Seafront. Its sad to see how much the once vibrant town centre has been run down. Whilst the traditional seaside holidays have largely gone for ever there is still a large market for short breaks but to be succesfull it needs amusements and entertainment all of which is almost none existant in Margate today. The town centre seafront also needs a good tidy up it is an absolute dump at present . The town needs to present an attractive image to attract and get back trippers.