What Campaign

[Bob]

As far as I can tell the Save Dreamland Campaign has fizzled out from lack or support & Interest. What is actually happening ? About nothing ? from the level of support on this board the whole Campaign consists of about a dozen people at most and has close on zero impact on getting support. Where is the support from the local businesses, where is the support from the local people ?

It looks to me that this campaign has run its course and is fading away. Its certainly not gaing any attention.

The Local Council looks as if its going to get its way. So Margate can look forward to a tacky unwanted arts centre , another unwanted Shopping centre and some cheap and nasty housing development.

[RowBot]

you can't really say that since you don't know all the work Nick and the rest of the team do behind the scences. Plus as Nick regularly says TDC does meantion dreamland and its campaign alot and it still needs all our help to keep them on their toes.

[jmace9]

As far as I can tell the Save Dreamland Campaign has fizzled out from lack or support & Interest. What is actually happening ? About nothing ? from the level of support on this board the whole Campaign consists of about a dozen people at most and has close on zero impact on getting support. Where is the support from the local businesses, where is the support from the local people ?

It looks to me that this campaign has run its course and is fading away. Its certainly not gaing any attention.

The Local Council looks as if its going to get its way. So Margate can look forward to a tacky unwanted arts centre , another unwanted Shopping centre and some cheap and nasty housing development.

In my view the campian is the only hope Dreamland has left and i for one do not think your messages are doing the campain any good. please stop posting such unsuppotive messgaes as they are not helping Dreamland or Margate. I would also like to point out that Nick and the others are doing a great job campaining behind the scenes.

ps: People normaly join such a campain to help and give support you are doing the opposite and i don't think we need that kind of support.

Thanks

[micktee]

I have said it before and say it 'again' Bob has not got a clue about any of the future plans for Margate!
If you have not got any constructive comments about Margate 'SHUT UP'
I can inform members that from a meeting I had on Tuesday, and these will be made public during October the future for Margate has never looked so good.

[jmace9]

I have said it before and say it 'again' Bob has not got a clue about any of the future plans for Margate!
If you have not got any constructive comments about Margate 'SHUT UP'
I can inform members that from a meeting I had on Tuesday, and these will be made public during October the future for Margate has never looked so good.

Great news micktee I look forward to hearing some news on Margates future shortly And i would also like to say i agree completley with your coments regarding Bob.

Thanks

[Nick]

I suggest that Bob takes an hour to browse through the news pages of this website since the campaign started in January 2003 and he will then see that the Campaign has actually achieved a great deal and has far from fizzled out.

When we started this campaign, we were being told by certain councillors that Dreamland is Mr Godden's site and he can do with it what he wishes. Dreamland's owners were also telling us that the Scenic Railway would be gone by the end of the year (September 2003, I recall). At the very least, this campaign has been a fly in the ointment of the owners.

However, in reality, the Campaign has been much more than that. We have been very successful in raising the profile of the Dreamland issue in the local area, to the extent that we regularly get news coverage locally, regionally and nationally. We have taken every opportunity to write to the council at every formal consultation, and we have had very positive results (you only need to read council reports to see that). The 2004 Margate Masterplan consultation, for example, was a major victory for the Campaign. This showed that the issue of Dreamland generated the most responses to the consultation (44% of all responses) “with almost all of them strongly supporting the use of the site for a major amusement park, family-based attraction” according to the Council. We also made a massive impact on the Local Plan consultation and we had a day to ourselves at the public inquiry.

We have also had numerous meetings with council leaders, have generated serious interest from theme park operators in acquiring the site and we continue to work very closely with more than one operator. I have also recently met with the new owners of the site. We continue to lobby people behind the scenes, and - as always - as soon as there is an opportunity for all members to get involved, I will send around an email to our members list. We try to coordinate things properly, so that our members get involved at the opportune time and to ensure that their efforts aren't wasted.

Bob, you seem to do a lot of moaning from the sidelines. The big difference for most members of the campaign is that they don't sit on the sidelines, they are actively involved. Everyone is doing their bit. We have hundreds of members who write letters to the council and participate in the consultation exercises. They have attended public inquiries (our advocate at the 2004 Inquiry, for example, travelled down from Manchester to be there). They have met at the park at two special events, they have attended the Save Dreamland Convention. And we had loads of members turning up to support us at the Preston Rally weekend in June. Just talking to the hundreds of people who came up to our stand at the Rally proved to me that this campaign is definitely making a difference.

Hopefully, Bob, you will be able to get involved with the campaign when the next opportunity arises. If you haven't done so already, put your name down for our mailing list and we will let you know when you can get involved yourself.

Nick

[Vince, Charlie and Sam]

We've kept the Scenic Railway up and running so far Bob, despite the fact that me, Charlie and Sam have ridden the "last-ever" ride three times now.

Hope to see you there on sunday for the end-of-season bash!


Vince

[micktee]

Interesting reading on the forum, I am pleased to think that that I am not alone about Bob's feelings about Margate.
Vince, I and my wife have been on the good old Scenic this year with our chains around us, and proud of it.
I have mentioned on a previous postings about the future, the Scenic Railway will play a big part in the future of the seafront area.
We will all have the wonderful experience to ride on this unique coaster for many years to come.
I and my wife Shirley sadly will not be at Dreamland on Sunday, as we have Civic function in Faversham, but I would ask that you pass on our good wishes, and keep on in there to all the members of this campaign, I can tell you it is all worth while.
Mick

[David Ellis]

Today's news...

<taken from the main save the scenic site>

The Inspector is absolutely clear that retail development will not be appropriate on the Dreamland site. Also of interest is the Inspector's remark in paragraph 94: “I explain in the Tourism Chapter of the Report why Dreamland amusement park should remain as a core leisure facility and I recommend Policy T11 should be modified accordingly."

This is the most promising news we have had for ages!

What campaign indeed!

David.

[porterm]

How ironic! - I was only mentioning the Local Plan outcome to Sarah Vickery at the Shell Grotto just before leaving her (yes, OPEN for business attraction).

Just the tonic we all need I feel at this moment in time, especially after a very disappointing day for me in Margate yesterday (apart from the lovely weather of course and meeting Campaign friends). I do hope Bob gets to read this item as many many things are still happening behind the scenes with the Campaign, and will continue until. like the recent Save Disney Campaign, meet its ultimate targets.

Martin

[porf]

Good news indeed !

Looking forward to the Tourism section in October now.

Congratulations to all involved.


p.s. Initially I couldn't see the updated front page or newspages, seems to be a problem with cached pages in Netscape - If you can't see this news either it's worth trying with another browser.

[AJ]

Is Bob on JG or Mr Ayers bank roll??

If I was an outsider looking in then Bob would have done a fantastic job at putting me off from visiting Maragte let alone Dreamland! Its clear that JG wants to get rid of all tourism to Margate a la Bob.

I'm gutted that I haven't been down at all this season but with two new jobs this year and other commitments it has been impossible. I feel I have really let the side down but will make double the effort next season I promise.

A big hello to all the old faces Dave, Sarah, Simon and everyone else. And I've just found out (thanks to Sarah's website) that there is a Shell Grotto near me in Ware so I'll have to pay a visit.