BBC South East News

[porterm]

I managed to miss the feature yesterday as mentioned in the "main news" section on this website. Ironically, I tried to call them the other day for a possible feature and no-one has returned my call to date.

Was the item featured last night or day time? - just wondering as I watched most of the evening show at 6.30pm last night.

Meantime I will await Sarah Vickery's BBC Radio Kent item this morning with interest.

Martin

[Scotchie]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/4743420.stm

[David Ellis]

Dreamland was open for the 2005 summer season, but Mr Kirby said the site spends much of the year empty.

This is the sort of comment from Thanet members that gets my goat...it is only empty for most of the year because that's how the current owners have (mis)managed it.

Members of the Council continue to fail to see that the place could be SO different under the proper management. Why isn't this message getting through to them?

David.

[Nick]

Dreamland was open for the 2005 summer season, but Mr Kirby said the site spends much of the year empty.

This is the sort of comment from Thanet members that gets my goat...it is only empty for most of the year because that's how the current owners have (mis)managed it.

Members of the Council continue to fail to see that the place could be SO different under the proper management. Why isn't this message getting through to them?

David.

I agree. Mr Kirby is clearly not in possession of all the facts. If he took more of an interest in the Dreamland debate he would know that Dreamland did not stay empty for most of the year when it was properly run. And if Mr Kirby visited Southend-on-Sea any time of the year - winter, spring, summer, autumn - he would see Adventure Island operating and a lively, buzzing seafront. And the owner of Adventure Island, Philip Miller, would like to do the same for Margate at Dreamland.

As an aside, I had a call from Philip today. He was in Margate earlier this week meeting with the council, exploring ways forward for Dreamland. He repeated yet again that he is seriously interested in taking on the entire site and creating a modern family amusement park. He also told me that he is confident that the run-down appearance of Margate seafront, that has significantly worsened since Dreamland stopped being a full-time amusement park, would dramatically improve with a committed owner of the park.

We can but hope that people like Mr Kirby listen to the words of the people of the district, visitors to the town, the independent inspector and experienced industry figures like Philip Miller and start treating the future of Dreamland with the importance that it deserves.

Nick

[porterm]

Sarah,

I managed to hear you on BBC Radio Kent yesterday morning; another sterling performance may I say. It's a shame that they seem to have to keep the items so brief sometimes though in my opinion.

The more exposure of Dreamland's current situation can only be better I reckon.

Martin

[Sarah]

Thanks Martin. Yes, it was a bit brief - they put me on a little late due to their coverage of the £40-million robbery I think. But they did repeat it on the news through the day, so a good many people will have been treated to my dulcet tones (sounding more and more like Pauline Fowler as each day passes) banging on about viability.

Sarah

[Cheryl]

Yes, it frustrates me also that every one can seem to get the message regarding Philip Miller acquiring Dreamland except for the Council. It leads me to three conclusions, they are either thick, have no interest in Margate, or as I suspect are on some sort of 'back hander'.

[Sarah]

I think there may be other alternatives Cheryl, although these are just my musings.

Certain people want to 're-position' Margate in the tourism sector and move away from our traditional market. Those people view Dreamland as very much a working class, rather low-brow, attraction. They seem to have little understanding of how the world has moved on since the 1950s - and they accuse us of living in the past!

And I also wonder about the effects of some of our elected representatives wanting to leave a legacy of their time in power. Perhaps they think that placing something 'different' and 'new' on the site will be an indication of their vision, bravery and long-sightedness. Keeping Dreamland will seem safe and unadventurous in comparison.

Of course, protecting the site is by far the bravest course of action. And a Dreamland run by Philip will be the most radical step forward this town has seen in many many years. A quantum leap. I know that, you know that, but I'm not sure everyone at TDC quite gets it yet.

Sarah

[Illinformed]

I see that the article has been picked up by the Thanet Life blogger.

It's in this thread:-
http://birchington.blogspot.com/2006/02 ... l#comments

There's not an awful lot of 'Option B' support on there at the moment.

[Neil]

Perhaps they think that placing something 'different' and 'new' on the site will be an indication of their vision, bravery and long-sightedness. Keeping Dreamland will seem safe and unadventurous in comparison.

If they think brave is good we need to park them down in front of a Yes Minister. I agree that either Mr Kirby is not in possession of the facts (or alternatively he does not want to listen to the facts). It is also worth pointing iout to him the the theme park season is gradually being extended. Each year more parks seem to open a month earlier for the February half term so it can only be a matter of time before the closed season is reduced from over 4 months to 3 and a half. This years Paultons Park was one of the parks to make the step to open earlier.

[Susan]

I have to support Neil's comments.

I am now listening to the advertisements for Blckpool Pleasure Beach and the early in the year weekend offers. It is an annual situation and attracts a lot of interest taking trippers to Blackpool in February.

I doubt if Margate seafront will be full of visitors this weekend.