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by **Neil** » 22 Jan 2006, 22:02

I'm afraid the title of this topic had a rather distressing and unfortunate pun. Indeed there is much breaking at the Rotunda and no it is not being done by repectable builders. The Log Flume is very much on it's last legs. The mountain has been destroryed and half the trough removed meaning in a few weeks the only two rides remaining in the park with be Draculars Castle (ghost train) and Runnaway Coaster (side friction coaster) and I fear the Runnaway will be destroyed very soon as well.

So what is my reasoning behind arguing the builders are not repectable and are instead a bunch of drunken cowboys?
1) Well they may not have been drunk but several of them were swigging from bottles of beers and were certainly tippsy. I am not builder myself (and arguably since one of them had an atrocious builder butt they should be) but I'm sure other builders don't let their staff drink on the job.
2) Again I'm not certain but I think they're flouting health and saftey regualtions. As the following photos will show work is extensive but there are no signs (eg "hard hat area") and the area is in no way fenced off.
3) I went to some effort to get these photos. I will just about to get my first pic when I hear "Mother f**ker-this is private property so unless you want beats f""k off." Ofcourse my next move was to leave but then walk along the beach which is public land and hence I should have been able to stand on the beach and watch and theoretically they can swear as much as they like but there's nought they can do. Unbelieveably they attempted to drive me off the beach. I stood my ground but I felt a little unsafe as I was the on my round and they were making various threats. I was ready to run but luckily their threats didn't come to fruitation and later I slunk back to the park to get some more pics although I couldn't get any signs this time as they were in a heap next to the builders. I was tempted to go back on Sunday to get some but my parents wouldn't have it.

We always know these rides were likely to be demolished but why be so stingy? When you think how much money Jimmy Godden is making I'd have thought he could have employed some proper builders (even if they did have builders butts!).
http://www.freewebs.com/rotunda06/rotunda1.JPG
http://www.freewebs.com/rotunda06/rotunda2.JPG
http://www.freewebs.com/rotunda06/rotunda3.JPG
http://www.freewebs.com/rotunda06/rotunda4.JPG
http://www.freewebs.com/rotunda06/rotunda5.JPG
http://www.freewebs.com/rotunda06/rotunda6.JPG
http://www.freewebs.com/rotunda06/rotunda7.JPG
http://www.freewebs.com/rotunda06/rotunda8.JPG

I'll try and upload more pics soon but if you do go and the builders are there I'd recommend no going alone as they don't seem like the pleasantest bunch if you know what I mean.

by **porterm** » 22 Jan 2006, 23:07

Strange you should post this Neil as one of my friends had just returned from an afternoon trip down to Folkestone and told me what was happening to the former fun park's rides. It is indeed very sad news, particularly for the Runaway Coaster, I feel. That's just about the only ride left there really worth saving in my opinion.

I don't know if a new owner for the above coaster was thoroughly explored but it looks like the clock is ticking pretty fast now regarding its final fate. My friend said that the coaster's wooden frame was in pretty bad repair however. It seems such a shame seeing how the ride was transformed so well back around 1997, when I rode it for my first and only time.

We can only hope things are not as bad as they appear. Fingers crossed.

Martin

PS My friend said the whole area around the Rotunda looked really gloomy now and at 80p per hour to park opposite it they only stayed an hour, and were probably very glad to get back home. No further comment required.

by **Zoidstar** » 23 Jan 2006, 11:47

Great shame, what about the Rotunda building itself is that still standing?

Also there seems to be a problem with your photos only a bout half is showing up the rest is just a grey block

by **Neil** » 23 Jan 2006, 13:49

Well I removed the above photos so as I could re-upload them but now I can't even get some of the photo to uplod so I will skip this stage and try and get the freewebz gallery on line as quick as possible. I might get a few pics on freewebz later today if I have time-cheers.

In terms of the dome the larger and main one went a while ago. Apperently it was going to be listed so Jimmy Godden had it knocked down quickly (although please note this is second hand information and thus may be wrong. I'm going by what my Uncle has picked up from the loacl paper).

The smaller dome is still open 10-10. There MAY also be a small fun fair next summer holidays (there has been for the last few years so I'll try and keep you updates). In terms of the Runnaway it's in a bad state but looks better than Leap the Dips did in photos before it was restored so perhaps theoretically restorations is still possible.

EDIT: Above post now corrected with four more photos added. A few more will be included in the final gallery-thanks for your patience.

by **Chris H** » 23 Jan 2006, 18:14

I think we need to destinguish what ride is and what isn't worth saving. When i was at the park i remember looking at the ride as it was in operation and even then it didn't look safe (not saying it wasn't). Personally i wouldn't say its worth saving or making a fuss about, but on second thoughts we have alll had fond times at Rotunda and i can see what makes you think that way.
Considering Godden used to be a showman himself, I can't see how he can just wipe his hands clean of them.

by **Scotchie** » 23 Jan 2006, 19:13

I assume people have seen these before ?

http://bbhilda.topcities.com/Folkestone ... stone.html

by **Neil** » 23 Jan 2006, 22:23

Chris H wrote:I think we need to destinguish what ride is and what isn't worth saving. When i was at the park i remember looking at the ride as it was in operation and even then it didn't look safe (not saying it wasn't). Personally i wouldn't say its worth saving or making a fuss about, but on second thoughts we have alll had fond times at Rotunda and i can see what makes you think that way.
Considering Godden used to be a showman himself, I can't see how he can just wipe his hands clean of them.

In what ways didn't it look safe? It may have been unsafe but I don't think it had an accident in around 85 years of operation so it's probably deceptive. Here's why I'm dissappointed to see it go:
1) Only one of two surviving side friction roller coasters
2) World's oldest travelling roller coaster
3) I think it is actually older than the Scenic Railway so it is a really historic atraction.
It is perhaps debateable whether Jimmy Godden is a Showman or whether he realised that amusement parks can be bought very cheaply compared to their land value and hence bought them as an investment. Anyhow it certainly hasn't worked out well for the Runnaway.

by **Chris H** » 24 Jan 2006, 18:22

Yes I should have used deceptive rather than unsafe.

I haven't had a look at the state of the coaster for quite a while but last

time i saw it must have been last summer and it was in a state then, it

must be boardering unrepairable now. But still thats the way Godden

wants it. It will be a great loss.

by **Neil** » 26 Jan 2006, 12:46

Well another shameless advertisement I'm afraid, but I've finally completed my gallery of the Rotunda (so enjoy!). It includes 15 photos (the old ones plus some new ones of the Runnaway and some semi-areal views taken from Memeroy Hill). It also included a running commentary/captions and a small plug for the Save Dreamland Campaign.
http://www.freewebs.com/rotunda06/rotunda06.htm

by **Chris H** » 27 Jan 2006, 10:09

Thanks for that Neil

Some very shocking images their since we have been on the rides our self.

Absolute theft :evil:

by **Neil** » 30 Mar 2006, 20:34

Apparently some more news has been released, but I can't for the life of me find it on the net.

According to a letter I've recieved from a familiy friend who lives there they plan to replace the harbour railway line with a tram system, and the main deck of the pier will become 'Sea Street' with bars and bistros. There will also be a Sea Cat from here to France. I know it isn't directly Dreamland related, but if anyone knows more please do post.

by **Scotchie** » 01 Apr 2006, 18:42

http://83.138.148.107/_PSEditions/Kos%2 ... ay%20(East)/02-04-2006/pdfpages/Page8.pdf

Tomorrows Kent on Sunday

by **Sarah** » 01 Apr 2006, 21:22

I hope the people of Folkestone fully appreciate how fortunate they are to have Roger de Haan fighting for the town's best interests. He has already wrought amazing changes for Folkestone and it looks like the sky's the limit as far as his aspirations go. Multi-billionaire businessmen with such a strong ethos of community responsibility are sadly, but predictably, thin on the ground.

Godden versus de Haan should be no contest. I wonder if Trent are yet ruing the day they got involved with JG.

Sarah

by **Neil** » 07 Apr 2006, 17:43

OK folks, want to know more?
Well an exhibiton is running on the Rotunda site and you can now visit the official property pirate website
www.folkestoneharbour.com
The long and the short of it is that it's C**P
Not only does the Rotunda apparently need to go, but the historic railway bridge leading to the harbour must also full victim to the bull dozers.
You will be pleased to know that high rise 'luxary affordable housing' is necessary to create an econimc seafront. You will also be pleased to hear that they can already confirm one leisure attraction, a WC (I know I may be exaggerating as I'm biased, but the booklet they are handing out at the Rotunda sounds a bit like a spoof!)
They can aslo reveal one of their sporting develpments

A path will allow walkers, cyclists and jogger to travel the length of the coastline taking in a unique mixture of art, sport, nature and leisure

Maybe Dreamland could be redeveloped with cool leisure like a path.
There will be shops (although it stresses that the only viable development is 'predominantly residential') as long as the National Lottery will pay to have them built.
Want another reason to support Jimmy Godden? Well his residential development will be built in front of the historic cresent 'ensuring sea views.
Oh come off it, we're past April Fools Day.

by **olansley** » 09 Apr 2006, 02:36

I'm confused... This master plan on folkestoneharbour.com seems to be Roger de Haan's masterplan, not Jimmy Godden's?. It's drawn up by Foster and Partners and the newspaper artice above shows that Roger de Haan's plan was drawn up by these designers.

It seems Roger de Haan is just as bad as Godden!

It's a terrible shame for folkestone and all the plan does is destroy the old harbour (which is very beutiful), destroy the rotunda, replacing it all with housing.

Much like Margate without dreamland, i see no reason to ever visit the town as it has nothing special.

I can't beleive how short sighted these developers are. Especially when the high speed rail link arrives in 2009, both Folkestone and Margate will be around a 30 min train jouney from central london. This compairing to 50mins and 40mins for Thorpe park and Chessington.

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