Thanet Times-Last Week

[Landman]

I have sent the following letter to Thanet Times in response to an article in their paper last Tuesday 17/1/06. Can someone confirm whether Margate Town Centre Development Company is the same as Margate Town Centre Regeneration Company, no. 05291909? It isn't listed under the first name at companies house and I'd like to know that if they are the same who the directors are. I presume no councillors are?


Dear Sir. I note in your paper the 17/1/06 ‘D-Day for Dreamland…’ that Dreamland will have it’s future decided by Thanet Council this Thursday 19/1/06. The report goes on to state that Toby Hunter chairman of the Margate Town Centre Development Company has stated that nothing will be decided until after a public consultation in April. Hold on, when is a decision being made, Thursday the 17th or after the public consultation in April? Margate Town Centre Development Company, the report states has ‘no firm plans for the site’. From what I see not only has Margate Town Centre Development Company not got any firm plans for the site, it has no plans at all apart from attracting some interest from operators to run Dreamland for the next three years and that the Fun Park will reopen this summer. Last summer Dreamland was not exactly overrun with visitors and quite frankly it looks pathetic! The company we are told is also advertising in the World’s fair trade magazine to find someone to run the park. I can’t even find a website for this journal. The other plans mentioned are for a green park around the scenic railway as a central feature to provide a high quality amenity area. Whilst on the subject of the scenic railway, a protected structure, why can’t this be dismantled and moved elsewhere if it’s position is a problem as has been suggested in the past? It doesn’t have to be destroyed. Other ideas the local authority may allow so we are told are for a convenience store, shops, some residential use, a road. The onus will be on any developer to show that an amusement park will not be viable or appropriate. Now it is not too difficult to produce a report showing that an amusement park is appropriate one way or the other? A simple play on words is enough. You may be surprised to learn that in my opinion Amusement parks like Dreamland have had their day, unlike their modern high-tech off-spring, Alton Towers, Chessington or Thorpe Park. However why not look at the following ideas, 1) Water park as per Schlitterbahn water parks, or Alton Towers water parks, 2) Visual Audio experience as at Futurscope in Poitiers, France, 3) Sealife centre and aquarium as in Blackpool. (The last two great for rainy days) 4) a huge hotel with lifestyle coaching, sport & fitness, casino, cinema, restaurant and theatre (on the scale of a hotel in Vegas) that will attract the Nouveau Rich, especially with links to three good local golf courses, Manston Airport and local ferries on the south coast. Nope, seems we’ll end up with convenience store, shops, some residential use, a road. I can only conclude that Margate Town Centre Development Company has no firm plans and therefore no credibility. Thanet District Council appears to lack imagination. Isn’t it time a firm of Venture Capitalists were bought in to make Margate Town Centre Development Company a reasonable offer for the Dreamland site and actually attract some serious business and money to this town. What I see at present is pathetic and very amateurish.

[Bob]

I have sent the following letter to Thanet Times in response to an article in their paper last Tuesday 17/1/06. Can someone confirm whether Margate Town Centre Development Company is the same as Margate Town Centre Regeneration Company, no. 05291909? It isn't listed under the first name at companies house and I'd like to know that if they are the same who the directors are. I presume no councillors are?


Dear Sir. I note in your paper the 17/1/06 ‘D-Day for Dreamland…’ that Dreamland will have it’s future decided by Thanet Council this Thursday 19/1/06. The report goes on to state that Toby Hunter chairman of the Margate Town Centre Development Company has stated that nothing will be decided until after a public consultation in April. Hold on, when is a decision being made, Thursday the 17th or after the public consultation in April? Margate Town Centre Development Company, the report states has ‘no firm plans for the site’. From what I see not only has Margate Town Centre Development Company not got any firm plans for the site, it has no plans at all apart from attracting some interest from operators to run Dreamland for the next three years and that the Fun Park will reopen this summer. Last summer Dreamland was not exactly overrun with visitors and quite frankly it looks pathetic! The company we are told is also advertising in the World’s fair trade magazine to find someone to run the park. I can’t even find a website for this journal. The other plans mentioned are for a green park around the scenic railway as a central feature to provide a high quality amenity area. Whilst on the subject of the scenic railway, a protected structure, why can’t this be dismantled and moved elsewhere if it’s position is a problem as has been suggested in the past? It doesn’t have to be destroyed. Other ideas the local authority may allow so we are told are for a convenience store, shops, some residential use, a road. The onus will be on any developer to show that an amusement park will not be viable or appropriate. Now it is not too difficult to produce a report showing that an amusement park is appropriate one way or the other? A simple play on words is enough. You may be surprised to learn that in my opinion Amusement parks like Dreamland have had their day, unlike their modern high-tech off-spring, Alton Towers, Chessington or Thorpe Park. However why not look at the following ideas, 1) Water park as per Schlitterbahn water parks, or Alton Towers water parks, 2) Visual Audio experience as at Futurscope in Poitiers, France, 3) Sealife centre and aquarium as in Blackpool. (The last two great for rainy days) 4) a huge hotel with lifestyle coaching, sport & fitness, casino, cinema, restaurant and theatre (on the scale of a hotel in Vegas) that will attract the Nouveau Rich, especially with links to three good local golf courses, Manston Airport and local ferries on the south coast. Nope, seems we’ll end up with convenience store, shops, some residential use, a road. I can only conclude that Margate Town Centre Development Company has no firm plans and therefore no credibility. Thanet District Council appears to lack imagination. Isn’t it time a firm of Venture Capitalists were bought in to make Margate Town Centre Development Company a reasonable offer for the Dreamland site and actually attract some serious business and money to this town. What I see at present is pathetic and very amateurish.

I agree that the old fashioned style of amusement park as Dreamland used to be have had their day. There is still though a maket but not on the scale that Dreamland used to be. It also needs to be a much higher quality facility then it is now. One possibility is to cover over the site to produce an all weather facility which given the UK climate will help to extend the season.

[Neil]

Well I wish you the best of luck in getting it published although if it is it may well be edited down. I've written quite a few letters to my local paper and normally they don't like them being too long.

In terms of a casino I don't think it will go down well. There has been much opposition to casion's as gambling is not something the public want to see promoted and as far as the public are concerned is less desireable than an amusement park. The more casino's you have the more the indication that gambling is a worth while past time and let's be honest a lot of people have been ruined by it.

In terms of a hotel there is only point in a large hotel if there's something for peole do do when they stay there. A alrge hotel as a lone attraction is hardly likely to be viable. Perhaps have a hotel suplimenting an amusement park.

I think an aquarium would be a good option with an amusement park, but maybe not a sea life centre. There are so many it would be good for Margate to have something a little more unique.

[David Ellis]

The company we are told is also advertising in the World’s fair trade magazine to find someone to run the park. I can’t even find a website for this journal.

Try here...http://www.worldsfair.co.uk/wf/

Whilst on the subject of the scenic railway, a protected structure, why can’t this be dismantled and moved elsewhere if it’s position is a problem as has been suggested in the past? It doesn’t have to be destroyed.

Sadly this is just not possible...taking the ride down would destroy much of the timber. It would have to be built from scratch, using all new materials, and would certainly lose its listed status.

However why not look at the following ideas, 1) Water park as per Schlitterbahn water parks, or Alton Towers water parks, 2) Visual Audio experience as at Futurscope in Poitiers, France, 3) Sealife centre and aquarium as in Blackpool. (The last two great for rainy days) 4) a huge hotel with lifestyle coaching, sport & fitness, casino, cinema, restaurant and theatre (on the scale of a hotel in Vegas) that will attract the Nouveau Rich, especially with links to three good local golf courses, Manston Airport and local ferries on the south coast.

Personally I don't think these will pull lots of tourists from outside the area. Thanet DC seem to have a problem separating tourism (which will draw in "tourists") and leisure, which will predominantly cater to the existing population. Margate needs the tourist market...an amusement park run by a dedicated owner, who is happy to put investment into the park on a long-term basis is, in my opinion, the best hope for Margate.

These are just my personal opinions by the way.

David.

[Neil]

I agree that the old fashioned style of amusement park as Dreamland used to be have had their day. There is still though a maket but not on the scale that Dreamland used to be. It also needs to be a much higher quality facility then it is now. One possibility is to cover over the site to produce an all weather facility which given the UK climate will help to extend the season.

Finally Bob has come up with a good idea. Here is what I think his suggestion translates as:
-Entire site sold to Phillip Miller
-Phillip miller trys to add as many all weather attractions as possible (a decent dark ride like Beelzee Bobs, an enclosed coaster like the Sewer Rat, maybe even an enclosed water ride like a mini-Vahalla.
-Moreover I think Bob wants a whole land to be under cover and I'm sure that is a possibility. Phantasia Land did it with Wuzz Town and most of Toverland is enclosed. In other words the bigger rides would be outside but in Bob's vision of turning the whole site into a world class theme park much is under cover.

Well done Bob on a first class idea!!! Please make a note that Bob wants it to stay a theme park and all be sold to Philip Miller. Bob, I knew you'd start supporting the campaign eventually.