Bob Please Help!

[AJ]

Bob, here are a few recent questions that as usual you have neglected to answer I thought I would try and make it easier for you and stick them on a thread together. If you could make an attempt at answering them with some kind of evidence to back you up we would ALL be extremely grateful.

PLEASURELAND SOUTHPORT TO CLOSE

LOL@Bob

I see you got you're figures from:
http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100 ... _page.html
But if you read carefully everyone seems to think this entry fee killed people coming to the park!

Ian

That is complete nonsense. The charge was a modest £2 hardly a great sum of money. It costs almost that to buy a Sunday newspapers. The £2 admission charge also entitled them to sum discounts.The charge was as well only applied to those that did not buy wristbands which was a very small number.

The reason for the decline is the decline in visitor numbers to the resorts. It is quite likely another two or three will close within 12 months.

Bob, what discounts were these then? Seriously, I'm interested.

My family took my dad not long ago and he had to pay the £2 fee - No evidence of money off elsewhere in the park.

You miss the point about the entrance fee being a modest £2 - It's the very fact that there was an entrance fee at all for people who didn't want to ride the rides that put whole families off - including those who would normally buy the wristbands.

Gary

WATERBRIDGE LAUNCHES CONSULTATION WEBSITE

I would suggest that when the link is clicked on the Waterbridge site to the Dreamland site there is instantly available, top of the website, information on the importance (inter)nationally of the scenic railway.

I have no doubt that what is being hoped for is the usual knocking stuff by respondees.. oh, lets demolish this old stuff and move forward. We don't want it, it's in the way, etc.

Time for some careful and clever Dreamland PR here...

Yer average punter won't look further than what's put in front of their nose. Make 'em feel proud to 'own' something of such importance.

I don't live in Margate, but I feel that this is 'my' listed scenic railway.

Will my vote count? Can I in fact even respond?

I am impressed with the Waterbridge proposals for the redevelopment of Dreamland. Clearly a lot of thought has gone into it and the standard of the proposed architecture is first class. It blends in with the location very well. This redevelopment is clearly something Margate can be proud of. I particularly like how the development has been arranged to make the best of the Scenic Railway and to avoid overpowering it with the development. It’s a first class scheme. It will be great for Margate. The children’s and family facilities are first rate. I particularly like the educational part of the scheme. Facilities for the disabled are also excellent.

Please Bob go into more details of this plan. It seems Waterbridge are wasting money on this consultation. What is the point of th consultion Bob?

Please Bob go into moredetails of this plan. It seems Waterbridge are wasting money on this consultation. What is the point of th consultion Bob?

Consultation is never a waste of time. Valuable inputs on how to further improve the proposed scheme can be had.

Please Bob go into moredetails of this plan. It seems Waterbridge are wasting money on this consultation. What is the point of th consultion Bob?

Consultation is never a waste of time. Valuable inputs on how to further improve the proposed scheme can be had.

How can anyone give any input on 'how to further improve the scheme' when nobody has seen the proposals?

So you aren't asking people what they want to see on the Dreamland site, your asking how to improve upon what you have already 'chosen' for the site?

If this is the case why haven't MTRC explained this in the 195'000 leaflets and on the website?

WHY CAN'T MARGATE BE LIKE BRIGHTON

There is a reason that Margate isn't like Brighton, and it's been missed so far.

Margate has a BOB.

What Margate has to tackle and thats a job for the Local Council , is its image problem. Visitors see it as a seedy run down town populated by Unmarried mothers and immigrants. The entire town centre has a very run down and tired look about it. No commercial company is going to invest in a town that has such a seedy image. It does not neccessarily need manager money to tidy it up. A like of Paint. Some flowers, Some decrative lighting in the Seafront area. Get rid of the tired old Deckchairs and replace them with some bright new ones. Keep the place clean. All this inor things would considerably help. Getting rid of Nelson Mandeler House would help but I guess Margate is stuck with that. Thats one of the vist things visitors see and its not exactly attractive.

No commercial company is going to invest in a town that has such a seedy image

What? Not even Waterbridge?

Is Bob a Margate resident?

I so agree re Margate - a revitalised Dreamland, with the Scenic Railway as the star attraction!


What a wonderful thing that would be! People would flock to it.

Not the ghastly St*rb*cks and Big M*c culture I have no doubt Bob would love to see in its place. Well, that would make more money for the developers, wouldn't it Bob?

I see Bob has managed, in his ill-spelt way, to avoid the issues as usual.

Come on Bob - some facts and figures to support your assertions about the age profile at Blackpool?

It is not probably - it is still the UK's most visited attraction. Tired, dated and a bit seedy? With those wonderful historic coasters, including the Nash? It's called FUN, Bob. Maybe you don't know much about FUN.

Other amusement parks are making cash. The problem is when owners retire and the parks are put up for sale, they tend to be bought by greedy developers, who make all manner of claims about their unviability in order that they can redevelop. Hey, that way they make more cash, and to hell with anything else - including heritage.

I'm not daft Bob - even if you are. I'm used to the wiles of developers.

The reasons for the closure of Pleasureland are complex, but until the disastrous entrance charge and armbands were introduced there were over two million visitors a year. In 2005, that plummeted from the 2004 figure to half a million. Cause and effect, Bob?

Decent management and a good park brings visitors. Margate has a wonderful ride in the Scenic Railway to exploit.



(Hey - none of my friends would be seen dead tripping the light fantastic in the ballroom - bloody 'ell, we aren't in our dotages yet!!!)

They are a plc I suggest you study their accounts for the last 10 years

Have you?

And where are your facts and figures re the age profile?

And exactly what connection with the owners of the Dreamland site have you, Bob?

Or will that be more questions unanswered?

PLEASURELAND - DEMOLITION CONTINUES

EH has again refused to list Cyclone.. I don't agree with the reasoning. Docs here:

http://www.coasterforce.com/home/p2_articleid/277

The argument they give for not listing is sound and fully conforms to Planning legislation. It is clear that the Cyclone falls outside of the critera to be listed. There are far better examples of similar rides in existance in the UK . Most similar rides of the period are unique in one way or another as most were pretty near cutom built

I reckon Bob has not a lot of idea about listing frankly.
Those of us who have think EH/DCMS sucks!

Maybe 'Bob' can expand on where there is another typical 'fig of 8' coaster standing pre-war?

NOW THE SEASON HAS ENDED

Now the season has ended and I have all of my equiptment off site even the bungee that is now half owned by dave collard
I can open my gob so to speak
first off I wish to apologise for my comments saying that the webbs were a pleasure to work with that was a lie! brought on by the fact that I though that I would get the money back that they borrowed from my company to pay the rent in May,buy the kiosk and fill the side stalls with prizes buy the fire extinguishers for the rides and even pay for ink cartriges for the fax machine, without this loan they would never have been able to open that is why the opening was delayed till May bank holiday

quite a considerable sum alas as the summer approached that was not to be therfore they let me have 100 percent of my takings to try to reduce the debt but did not reduce it much
The stupid sidetrack of the park lessee to convert the scenic cafe into a recording studio and suck yet more people into the webb (pardon the pun)
IE the two swing singers who really thought that the scenic cafe was going to be their X factor I saw the drawings a lovely reception area the walk in freezer converted into a recording booth (dying laughing)
and the two guys painting out the rooms of course they are not around now as their dreams have been shattered as of course you have to have money to actually carry out these projects.
most of the showmen were stitched up and a near mutiny arose when the operators tokens were not split 50 50 as agreed to reduce the electricity bills incurred
everyone was so near to turning round the token boards and writing £1.50 cash NO TOKENS accepted for the final two days
then a compromise seemingly was reached
everyone on site could not wait to pull down and move on and that was not because of Margate or lack of trade it was simply because of someone taking a lease thinking it was easy money with no contingency fund just in case the season did not pan out favorably
they did have what they thought was a walking ATM in me
I know that the showmen wont come back next season if the same operator is in control as they dont have a pot to pee in
so if that is the case at the end of a bad season what chance does anyone have of making a living next year if the lessee is skint
with rent owing so i am led to believe
Its time to bring in someone with admin skills and a knowledge of customer service, a large funfair firm with the proven capital to sustain the season otherwise mr godden will be clapping his hands knowing that by leasing to dreamers and get rich quick people he will attain his goal far sooner of saying the park is not viable
the frustrating thing is we all know the park is viable
BTW the dreamgirlz were company directors IE charlton
here is a copy of my invoice to webb amusements

The Kentish Pub Company Ltd.

The Billet
206 London Road
Sittingbourne
Kent
ME10 1QA
Telephone 01795 424***
Telephone Mobile 07976 700510
lordredhill@hotmail.com
www.the-billet.net


4th August 2006

INVOICE
WEBBS AMUSEMENTS LTD
MAYF*** B***LOW, O*** LANE (cant show addy but is available from companies house)
WATFORD
HERTFORDSHIRE
*******




Cash advance to purchase kiosk £7000.00
Cash advance to pay rent £5000.00
Payment to prize supplier £2853.96
Payment to fire extinguisher co. £ 120.00
Purchase of printer cartridge £ 30.00

Total due £15003.96

It highlights the problem of the unviability of seaside amusement parks. The revenues are less then the costs. In general seaside resorts in the UK have short season and relatively short opening hours compared with those of the 1970's. This adds to the difficulties. The need is to try to make these parks multi purpose and not just be dependent on seasonal rides. This will not go down well with many but it may well be the only way to save these facilties. Even without the money that was due to you I doubt you were breaking even. You must have a lot of dedication to sink so much money into something that is likely to give you little if any return on the investment.

jeez ! unviable ?

take a trip up the lincolnshire coast

have a look at fantasy island. indoors/outdoors/shops/massive market
under the coasters/entertainment etc etc

heaving with people

Is that not what I am suggesting. That Dreamland needs to diversify into shops & market as well as a smaller amesument park.

Is that not what I am suggesting. That Dreamland needs to diversify into shops & market as well as a smaller amesument park.

But surely you must realise that someone who hides behind a pseudonym and refuses to reply to private messages asking him to confirm his identity cannot expect to have much weight given to his opinion?

ON WHO'LL BE RUNNING DREAMLND NEXT YEAR

I understand that the Webbs will not be back in Margate next year. Is there any news as to who will be taking the Park on?
I really wish the next operator would be offered a deal worth investing in, rather than just another short-term contract.

He is not returning because of the poor attendences. Dreamland lost a lot of money this year. It's unlikely that there will be anyone willing to operate it next year other then for a short spell in the high season. People are no longer interested in seaside amusement parks and besides which people no longer go to seaside resorts in any numbers.

He is not returning because of the poor attendences. Dreamland lost a lot of money this year.

How do you know?

SELECT COMMITTEE

Here's the page - the written evidence is here, from April, if you scroll down, and the oral (uncorrected) evidence from Tuesday's session, so the Margate one should appear here in the next day or so. It's usually fairly rapid.

It will all be published in due course, then the report of the Select Committee, then the Government will respond.

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/p ... htm#uncorr

Interesting to read EH's submission, about heritage-led regeneration...

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/p ... 23we38.htm

It is pleasing to see that EH backs the approach being taken for Dreamland and rethe refocusing of it to meet current needs.

Quote " It is generally acknowledged that coastal towns need to move towards sustainable, all-year round economies to be able to provide better employment opportunities and address the issues that currently beset many of them

That's a selected quote from that which can also be countered by other aspects of the report.

Not all sites have important listed structures as at Dreamland... so I wouldn't get too excited about EH.

'We further believe that the most successful heritage-led regeneration schemes in seaside towns offer valuable lessons for other organisations and individuals engaged in similar projects elsewhere.'


However, interesting to know that there are plans for Dreamland then which you obviously know about?

So are we to assume that the current supposed public consultation is a sham?

Dare you answer, or will you continue to ignore this as you seem to ignore anything which is an awkward question?

There is nothing at all silly about it. One cannot make sensible decisions without knowing the facts.

So Bob instead of being silly, spill the facts...

1) Real name.
2) Connection to Dreamland.
3) Connection to Waterbridge.

Please try to answer these simple questions, we will even forgive the spelling and puctuation mistakes you are bound to make.

Vince.

[furie]

I believe I can answer for Bob.

"Some people do not seem to understand that there is a decline in the British seaside resort as a tourist destination. Seaside towns must now move with the times and develop year round attrations. There is ample evidence that seaside towns are declining with many amusement parks closing each year.

Aside from this absolute 100% fact which cannot be proven against in any way shape or form:

<please press eject and turn the cassette over>

A consultation into what colour cars people prefer will allow us... Erm, a developer, to decide what the public mean to say. If they say red, it means a developer to build housing. If they say blue, it means a developer to build an Asda and McDonalds. If the heathens say "amusement park", then it will be made clear that this answer isn't within the range of permitted replies when discussing car colour, and therefore must be rejected from the consultation.

<please press eject and turn the cassette over>"

As with most people, I would love for bob to answer even half the questions here. In fact, I would love for Bob to even make some response in reply to statements made that fly in the face of his "opinions". However, I'll eat my hat if he ever replies with anything but a variation of the above.

[porf]

Life's too short to worry about Bob.

[lutonlad]

I see Bob is playing his party game again called Sleeping Lions. Maybe he worked as an entertainer at Dreamland! and enjoyed being redicouled.

Lutonlad

[EAS]

It's all gone very quiet I agree...

[vince69619]

Bob, now you are back, where's the answers?

[uvegotmale2000]

bob wont answer
he thinks he is cleverposting his nonsense but never can answer any questions giving to him

[EAS]

I quite miss him when he (they...) goes quiet - he makes me laugh, can't understand how anyone can get so much so wrong a great deal of the time.