Inspector's Recommendations to be Rejected?

[Alan]

Hi All,
The meeting tonight will be totally biased, not on behalf of the people who live and visit Margate who wish to see a revamped and total Dreamland site run and purchased by an enthusiastic operator who wants to reinvest and modernise the facility. As recommended by the inspectors report supported by The Save Dreamland Campaign.

The meeting tonight will result and discussion surround the wants and views of the JGDC- The Jimmy Godden District Council not voted for by constituants and certainly run for the personal benefit of that body money being the manipulator not the future of the resort.

Alan

[Neil]

Questions

What is a retail 'outlest'?

Is there a Tesco in the middle of Adventure Island that I've missed?


I think he's finally lost it.

That's exactly what I was about to say. If you're refering to gift shops then yes, that's fine Bob, but not slapping Asda in the centre.

Also Bob you talk about turning it into an 'all year round' tourist attractions (which we have already established an amusement park is not) but what attractions do you think would qualify for this catergory? Remember the park already has things like a cinemas. Ofcourse if an operator bought the site and turned half of it into a thriving theme park and Margate's visitors soared then we might consider things like a water park to extend it into an all year round attraction, however at present things like that will never get off the ground.

Also Bob when I visited this summer there were several empty outlets along the seafront. I agree Margate needs more shops so why don't you consider getting people to fill them?

It does seem that I have been repeating other peoples questions to a certain extent but that's because you havn't given us answers Bob. You argue that Dreamland can't compete with Thorpe Park but if you're going to adopt that argument Margate's shops can't compete with those in Canterbury (now do you see why your arguments don't hold much water?). Also you never did give us a reaction as to whether going ahead with the retail plans would involve removing the towns identity. If it did have shops wouldn't they be the same as those in every other town?

[Stephen]

Many people have summed up the situation and we can but hope that the Councillors of Thanet will wake up to the true situation.

It is hard to believe that they are even considering voting for an option that turns away the best chance Margate has had in decades to bring in massive tourist investment without cost to the council tax payers.

I think Cheryl's description of naive is perhaps a little kind it actually comes down to common sense.

Hopefully the electorate will be sitting up and taking notice of which of their elected representatives disregard everything they have said to them in consultations and the considered advice of a highly qualified independent Inspector. Or maybe we are misjudging the Councillors and perhaps they do have the best interests of Thanet at heart and they will vote to adopt the Inspectors recommendations.

[ricardobugsy]

The Planning Managers recommendations for tonights vote seem to hinge on the VIABILITY of Dreamland being retained as an amusement park when it has always been very viable and even despite Mr Goddens best attempts to run it down he has found it hard to produce any shred of evidence that it can no longer be viable.

The Redevelopment Company have done their best to sway the council into believing it is not viable in order to mask the real reason.

The REAL REASON being purely that if Dreamland must be retained as an amusement park then the MARKET VALUE of the land will be less than they paid for it. Nothing at all to do with viability!

However if it is made available for other uses, they can command a much higher price. An amusement park will sink to the bottom of the priority list as it will probably command the lowest sale price.

This will not be for the good of Margate or its people.
We can all see this! Surely the Council can see through this one!

Good luck for tonight everyone! (except Bob that is)

[Bob]

Questions

What is a retail 'outlest'?

Is there a Tesco in the middle of Adventure Island that I've missed?


I think he's finally lost it.

That's exactly what I was about to say. If you're refering to gift shops then yes, that's fine Bob, but not slapping Asda in the centre.

Also Bob you talk about turning it into an 'all year round' tourist attractions (which we have already established an amusement park is not) but what attractions do you think would qualify for this catergory? Remember the park already has things like a cinemas. Ofcourse if an operator bought the site and turned half of it into a thriving theme park and Margate's visitors soared then we might consider things like a water park to extend it into an all year round attraction, however at present things like that will never get off the ground.

Also Bob when I visited this summer there were several empty outlets along the seafront. I agree Margate needs more shops so why don't you consider getting people to fill them?

It does seem that I have been repeating other peoples questions to a certain extent but that's because you havn't given us answers Bob. You argue that Dreamland can't compete with Thorpe Park but if you're going to adopt that argument Margate's shops can't compete with those in Canterbury (now do you see why your arguments don't hold much water?). Also you never did give us a reaction as to whether going ahead with the retail plans would involve removing the towns identity. If it did have shops wouldn't they be the same as those in every other town?

Have you seriously read the councils recomendation? You post makes it very clear you have not at least if you have read it you have not understood it. Please tell me where it says it will allow a large supermarket to be built on the Dreamland site .

[David Ellis]

The problem with the report is not what it stipulates, but what it leaves in the balance. If option B is voted for (accepting the Inspector's findings and recommendations) then the future of the park is more secure. With option C (the officer's recommended solution) it leaves the situation open for the park to be left to run as a make-shift part time fairground. with no investment, which will therefore not pull in customers.

That will then be used as evidence that an amusement park is not viable and would be the end of Dreamland. That's why we don't want option C...it doesn't secure the park's future.

I guess by the time you read this the fate will have been sealed.

David.

[David Ellis]

Any news yet on the vote?

(sitting here anxiously!)

David.

[ripnet]

I guess we need to wait until friday for the result? tried thanets web site, but couldnt see anything

g

[cliffc]

Hi All

Bob/Godden/developement company and it would seem the council all seem to be of the opinion that Dreamland is not viable as an amusement park at its full size this is obviously not the case.

Phillip Miller (sorry to keep bringing you into this if your reading this) I only use Phillip as he is the only person who has been mentioned by name on the site as intrested. Is obviously a well respected and shrerwed buisness man, you only have to look at what he has done with Adventure Land to know that, is not going to be investing the sort of cash need to bring Dreamland up to the standard needed to make it an attractive attraction for people to want to visit, unless he is pritty sure he is going to get a return on that investment, he must know that he can make the books balance, or he would not be willing to even give it a go.
We also know other operators have shown a more than passing intrest in redevelopeing Dreamland into an amusement park for the 21st century, is bob and his cronies trying to say thease people dont know whay thay are doing.
I know Bob will come back with his ususal line that know one has made an offer but as been said by Nick and many others on this board before, thease people are only going to make an offer for the land at the going rate for an Amusement Park not the sort of rates it would be selling for if it were a housing estate or an ASDA, I am sure that if the owners were to sell the site to Phillip or one of the other intested partys, then a deal would be done and then the serious work of getting Dreamland back to its former status could begin in ernest.

Cliff C

[David Ellis]

I guess we need to wait until friday for the result? tried thanets web site, but couldnt see anything
g

I was hoping the Campaign members present at the meeting would have got back by now and posted the vote results...it was a public meeting. The Thanet website won't be updated live, I would have thought.

David.

[RowBot]

Just incase some of you don't know they chose option C (sorry if members aren't here to say so they are currently having a post-meeting and should be back soon. So seems not such a great responce from TDC since this isn't keeping what the government report stated.

Please go to to news page and scroll down to see for yourself what Option C is.

[David Ellis]

Just spoke to Dave...apparently the conservative members all towed the party line and voted for option C...the labour members all supported the campaign's wishes to adopt option B.

Consultation...here we come again!

David.

[Sarah]

Well, have had a rather encouraging evening, all in all.

The Labour group, in its entirety, voted in favour of Option B. The Conservative group voted for Option C. And as the Conservatives hold the sway of power here - just! - that means Option C was adopted.

However, we now have the public consultation period and the Campaign will also be working to get this decision called in by the Secretary of State.

Apologies for the late update, but whenever Campaign members get together there's always a lot of talking to do. Thanks to everyone who came from very great distances tonight - Paul, Alan, Martin, Vince and David - and of course to all of those who made the slightly shorter journey to Cecil Square.

We made our presence felt in the public gallery!

Sarah

[Bob]

Well, have had a rather encouraging evening, all in all.

The Labour group, in its entirety, voted in favour of Option B. The Conservative group voted for Option C. And as the Conservatives hold the sway of power here - just! - that means Option C was adopted.

However, we now have the public consultation period and the Campaign will also be working to get this decision called in by the Secretary of State.

Apologies for the late update, but whenever Campaign members get together there's always a lot of talking to do. Thanks to everyone who came from very great distances tonight - Paul, Alan, Martin, Vince and David - and of course to all of those who made the slightly shorter journey to Cecil Square.

We made our presence felt in the public gallery!

Sarah

Option C was the preferred Option of the council and is a very sound and sensible decision. It seems to be now beyond any doubt that the Save Dreamland campaign no longer wishes to save Dreamland but want to close it down.

Option C is in line with the Inspectors Report in all except a few very minor areas. I can see no sensible reason as to why anyone would object to Option C which is 95% in line with the Inspectors Report.

[Sarah]

Were you even at the meeting Bob?

Sarah