the fence has to comedown !!

The Save Dreamland Campaign was launched by Joyland Books in January 2003 and is now supported by several thousand people. This is the place to discuss all aspects of saving Margate's famous amusement park and its iconic , Grade II listed Scenic Railway, Britain's oldest roller coaster.

Moderators: dave771, porf, Sarah

Postby Vince, Charlie and Sam » 03 Jun 2006, 22:50

coasternutter wrote: I think that the cost of a mouse is a couple of hundred thousand pounds.


I think you will find that a new one would run to about £750,000. Bob told me that the ex-Dreamland mouse sold for around half that.
User avatar
Vince, Charlie and Sam
 
Posts: 922
Joined: 25 Aug 2003, 12:56
Location: Ramsgate.

Postby Strongbow55 » 04 Jun 2006, 01:44

Vince, Charlie and Sam wrote:
coasternutter wrote: I think that the cost of a mouse is a couple of hundred thousand pounds.


I think you will find that a new one would run to about £750,000. Bob told me that the ex-Dreamland mouse sold for around half that.


here is an accurate price for a second hand machine
http://www.amusement-rides.com/uil/images/S11.jpg
http://www.amusement-rides.com/uil/index.php
Year of manufacturing 1994
Footprint 18m. x 40m. / 59 ft. x 131 ft.
Height 15m. / 49 ft.
Capacity (approx.) 550 passengers per hour
Gondolas / seats 8 gondolas for 16 passengers track length 370m. / 1204 ft.
Power requirement (approx.)
Price ex. location € 750.000,- equals $ 900.000,- dep. on fluctuations
Comments Full Options, road model, in excellent condition. Finance available for qualified customers.
Strongbow55
 
Posts: 195
Joined: 27 May 2006, 00:40
Location: Sittingbourne

Postby Paul_E » 05 Jun 2006, 08:58

Any idea where the Pinfari is from in the following link:

http://www.amusement-rides.com/uil/prod ... D=53&CID=3

Just interested, sorry for going off topic.
Paul_E
 
Posts: 3
Joined: 05 Jun 2006, 08:55

Postby Jim Douglas Jr. » 05 Jun 2006, 18:57

Wow. Miss a few days and look at all the excitement I missed.
June is a madhouse for me.

This fence thing is good news. They need to impose a fine if the fence isn't removed.
Money talks.
Kyle & Herbie the Love Bug lll53
User avatar
Jim Douglas Jr.
 
Posts: 1182
Joined: 15 Mar 2006, 19:49
Location: San Francisco, California, USA

Postby Nick » 05 Jun 2006, 20:08

Paul_E wrote:Any idea where the Pinfari is from in the following link:

http://www.amusement-rides.com/uil/prod ... D=53&CID=3

Just interested, sorry for going off topic.


It is the Gauntlet at Camelot Theme Park, near Chorley, Lancs:

www.camelotthemepark.co.uk

http://www.rcdb.com/id1649.htm
Nick
www.joylandbooks.com
The Home of Amusement Park Books
User avatar
Nick
Site Admin
 
Posts: 791
Joined: 25 Jan 2003, 20:13
Location: Oxfordshire

The Gauntlet

Postby Paul_E » 06 Jun 2006, 07:48

Hi Nick, thanks for that. I kind of guessed it was the Gauntlet but didn't really want to speculate.

Is this the start of the park being sold off? or are they replacing it?

A million apologies for going off topic but Camelot is a park that holds a lot of memories for me, rather like Dreamland for yourselves.

Nick, if you wish me to start a new topic elsewhere then I will.
Paul_E
 
Posts: 3
Joined: 05 Jun 2006, 08:55

Re: The Gauntlet

Postby Nick » 06 Jun 2006, 18:54

Paul_E wrote:Hi Nick, thanks for that. I kind of guessed it was the Gauntlet but didn't really want to speculate.

Is this the start of the park being sold off? or are they replacing it?



To the best of my knowledge, it is just on the market so that they can replace it with another ride. The Gauntlet actually originated in Dreamland, believe it or not. There you go, how do you like that as an attempt to go back on topic?! (I can't think of a connection between the Gauntlet and the fence, though!)
Nick
www.joylandbooks.com
The Home of Amusement Park Books
User avatar
Nick
Site Admin
 
Posts: 791
Joined: 25 Jan 2003, 20:13
Location: Oxfordshire

Postby RowBot » 06 Jun 2006, 23:06

well maybe if they got rid of the fence to extend the park sometime in the future there will be enough room in the park to maybe get the Gauntlet back :wink: (or not but hey worthe a try)
User avatar
RowBot
 
Posts: 336
Joined: 12 Mar 2005, 00:19
Location: Ramsgate, Kent

Postby porterm » 06 Jun 2006, 23:29

Hi Paul_E and all,

Looks like you pre-empted the following news story I've just seen on the European Coaster Club e-mail list; http://www.lep.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx? ... ID=1545320

Sorry, it's way off topic again, but I thought you'd like to know about the rather sad news. (I actually went to Camelot back in 1993 for my solitary visit when the Tower of Terror and that indoor Space type coaster were still there).

Martin

PS Hopefully this will conclude this rather off-topic item now!
porterm
 
Posts: 732
Joined: 10 Feb 2003, 03:13
Location: Maidstone, Kent

Postby Neil » 07 Jun 2006, 16:57

This is terrible news so I will probably be heading for Camelot this year instead of the Pleasurebeach which was my original intention. I notice on the BBC website it says that Nick Laister recommends that the Council should allow a big housing estate, although I'm not sure whether it's the same Nick!

In terms of the fence I agree that they are entitled to increase security and would also support the developers in trying to do so, although I feel the fence they built was at too high a cost. They need something that's more aesthetically pleasing and it would also ne apprechiated if they were more open. When I emailed Mr Hunter earlier this year and asked what the fence is for he said that he was unable to tell members of the public. If the fence was primarily for security I'm surpirsied that the developers weren't keen to publicise this.
User avatar
Neil
 
Posts: 409
Joined: 22 Mar 2003, 16:33
Location: Banbury, Oxfordshire

Postby Nick » 07 Jun 2006, 19:12

Neil wrote:This is terrible news so I will probably be heading for Camelot this year instead of the Pleasurebeach which was my original intention. I notice on the BBC website it says that Nick Laister recommends that the Council should allow a big housing estate, although I'm not sure whether it's the same Nick!


I wish it was the same as Dreamland. I have acted for Camelot for the best part of 10 years and it is a long and quite sad story (I won't bore you with it!). In fact the situation with Camelot is almost the opposite of Dreamland. The big difference with Camelot is that if there was any operator interested in taking the park on as a going concern, the owners would - I am certain - snap their hands off. I have shown park operators around the site and sadly there has been no interest. And Chorley Council hasn't articifially inflated the land values by including a policy in the Local Plan either! I don't pretend to fully understand why there is no interest from the industry in taking on the park, but the current owners should be able to keep the place alive for another five to seven years.

There are planning restrictions on ride installations at Camelot, which doesn't help. The site is located in the Green Belt, and some quite exciting ride proposals have sadly been refused planning permission. Whether those rides could have turned the park around, we will perhaps never know.

One thing I can say, however, is that as somebody who works within the development industry, I certainly wouldn't be wasting my time with this campaign if I thought that Dreamland was a similar situation to Camelot. It certainly is not. There is significant operator interest in the site. The locals (residents and businesses) want it to remain, there is important heritage on the site, and visitors want the park saved as well. In the case of Dreamland, it is merely the Council that is causing the problems we are facing by attracting development interest where it wasn't necessary.
Nick
www.joylandbooks.com
The Home of Amusement Park Books
User avatar
Nick
Site Admin
 
Posts: 791
Joined: 25 Jan 2003, 20:13
Location: Oxfordshire

Postby MarkCF » 11 Jun 2006, 15:43

That is a real shame about Camelot. I went there for the first time last year and things were looking dire but you can definately see a massive potential. I think they have kinda gone overkill with the shops and stalls mind!

Anyways, to the topic at hand, with the fence.

I presume that the retro active planning permission has been submitted? It is the most unsightly thing placed, especially right next to the Scenic. It really spoilt the overall impression of the Scenic as I arrived in the Car Park yesterday.

Was it really necessary to have it quite so close to the ride? And why that fencing. There are other ways of placing security around the park. Gawd a wrought iron tall fence with Gold trimmings would look better then that. Ah but the cheap option!!!

Hopefully the planning permission will be revoked and then they are forced to take down the fence. I presume it was not Webb Amusements that had the fence put up?
MarkCF
 
Posts: 24
Joined: 18 May 2006, 10:47

Postby Neil » 11 Jun 2006, 19:13

Hopefully the planning permission will be revoked and then they are forced to take down the fence. I presume it was not Webb Amusements that had the fence put up?

No, it was put up by the Margate Regeneration company which is 60% owned by property developer Waterbridge who seem to make all the decissions for the company. I doubt Mr Webb will build any permanent structures as it wouldn't be viable when his lease is only 3 years.

It has now been refused planning permission so I think they will have to take it down (not sure whether they still have time to appeal or not!). The problem is that while it's up it's likely to put people off visiting so I doubt they'll be in a hurry to remove it. Good news though. Maybe in the the future they could try consulting the Save Dreamland Campaign. They don't have to, but we would be willing to make suggests a bit like the Lords suggesting ammendments to the Common's Bills.
User avatar
Neil
 
Posts: 409
Joined: 22 Mar 2003, 16:33
Location: Banbury, Oxfordshire

Postby jmace9 » 14 Jun 2006, 19:00

Hi All

Can anbody tell me wheather the fence is still up i noticed in some recent pics from the park it was still there. The reason i ask is the council refused planning permision for this on the 24th april so surely this has to come down soon. Can anbody tell us when or even pull a few strings at the council (Nick or Sarah) :) to find out when it has to come down by.

John
jmace9
 
Posts: 120
Joined: 02 May 2005, 17:25
Location: essex

Postby Jim Douglas Jr. » 23 Jun 2006, 17:23

Any new news on this subject?

I'm afraid the council won't actually DO anything about it.
Kyle & Herbie the Love Bug lll53
User avatar
Jim Douglas Jr.
 
Posts: 1182
Joined: 15 Mar 2006, 19:49
Location: San Francisco, California, USA

Previous

Return to Save Dreamland Campaign Forum

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 3 guests

cron