Isle of Thanet Gazette & Thanet Times

[RowBot]

Isle of Thanet Gazette 24th Nov

Campaigners who are fighting to keep Dreamland as a theme park are preparing to put their views to the site's owners.
A Save Dreamland Campaign spokesman said it has not responded to Waterbridge, which started asking people about the park in September, because it is not clear about the deadline.
In October the campaign condemned the consultation as worthless if the results wre not used to draw up plans for the future of the Margate Park.
Waterbridge, parent company of the Margate Regeneration Company, said it wanted to prompt a debate about the town.
To date 700 responses have been received, about a third of them telling the owners the fun park should be restired.
Save Dreamland's Sarah Vickery said "We have contacted the company before with our concerns that the consultation does not mention Dreamland.
"There is also no end date for the consultation so it is difficult to know when to submit a response.
"We will be deciding what the responce will be, but there will be writing to them."
MTCRC spokesman Rupert Kenyon said: "We have been pleased with the response so far. There will be a lot of information ready for the puiblic meeting in spring.
"Some of it may be in the form of plans and some in the form of written documents."
Last season the site was run by Watford-based showman George Webb but he will not be returning next year.
To send in your views text "Margate" followed by your message to 07797 805 722, or call 08000 837 849 or see www.textmargate.com.

Thanet Times 28th Nov

Fun park games

Save Dreamland campaigners are deciding on their response to a public consultation by the park's owners, Waterbridge.
They have yet to submit their views on its future after condemning the consultation as worthless.
About a third of the 700 responses received os far are in favour of restoring the fun park.

[Jim Douglas Jr.]

Considering it doesn't mention Dreamland at all, it's a pretty good random number for people mentioning it on their own, 1/3.

Be sure to make an issue oot of that little fact.

Seems public response when asked directly about Dreamland is closer to 90% in favor.

Another useful fact.

[Nick]

Considering it doesn't mention Dreamland at all, it's a pretty good random number for people mentioning it on their own, 1/3.

Be sure to make an issue oot of that little fact.

Seems public response when asked directly about Dreamland is closer to 90% in favor.

Another useful fact.

Absolutely. Hopefully, our recent media coverage on the consultation has at least brought it to the attention of some people that this consultation is about Dreamland. But I still can't see the value in the results. They are fairly meaningless.

I have to say that I have never been involved in a public consultation before that doesn't say what it is about, who the people are who are organising it, what they are going to with the results when the consultation ends and doesn't give any sort of deadline. It is the most unfocussed public consultation exercise I have come across in my 15 years in planning and development.

[EAS]

Actually - it's about the worst 'consultation' I've come across in several decades of life - if this came to Public Inquiry or Judicial Review it would be thrown out with gales of derisory laughter!

I'm interested in this company carrying out this farce... anyone tell me more?

I was told I would be contacted when I filled in that consultation stuff to discuss my idea for Margate's future further. I'm still waiting.

You don't think maybe they didn't like my ideas do you?

Private Eye is interested in what's going on at Margate.

[Jim Douglas Jr.]

I'm beginning to think it's all lip service.