News page

[Nick]

I am pleased to say that the News page is back, with loads of news to catch up on, including more on the public consultation.

http://www.joylandbooks.com/scenicrailway/news.htm

Please can everybody fill in the survey form on the new Council's Dreamland Planning Brief.

[Jim Douglas Jr.]

Always good to see updates.

I can't imagine Dreamland smaller than it already is. Once the heritage park opens, it's eventually going to need room to breathe as it becomes more popular, and as attractions need to be saved over the coming years.

How popular can it remain if it's just a footnote that you can 'do' in 90 minutes with no hope of adding additional attractions over the years. Look at the map! Any parklike setting can be kissed goodbye if there's no room to stretch.
I don't understand the need for stuff to be crammed together, and that's what will happen.

[EAS]

I agree. While it would be OK to have some small amount of 'enabling development' on the site, such as cafes, which would all help pay to set up the park and restore the cinema, and attract people to Dreamland as a leisure destination, if we all fill in the Planning Brief consultation to say that yes housing etc on the site will be fine, we have shot ourselves in the foot.

What will remain of the site will be far too small, and may in the end not be viable. Housing is a silly thing to have next to a noisy amusement park anyhow.

The Heritage Amusement Park could be simply cleared and more housing built in that case, leaving the Scenic to stand unused.

Eventually it will become unusable.

I do hope that those who have already filled in the consultation have considered all of this.

[AJ]

I certainly did EAS, the first thing I brought up.

As well as amusemnt parks my first love is speedway and to be honest both have a lot in common. Speedway is struggling to fight off the developers with many tracks now supermarkets or housing developements.

The thought of putting housing on Dreamland is an absolute joke even though the residents moving in will know about the amusement park there will still be many complaints.

There are many speedway tracks that have opened on the outskirts of towns because of noise issues that have been there years only to have the housing estates edge ever closer to the tracks. Even though the tracks were there first and the residents moved in knowing the tracks are there many have either been closed due to noise complaints or are in constant battles to keep their planning permission. I know speedway bikes are noisier but you are only talking about 30 minutes noise a week for 6 months a year.

Imagine the complaints from a busy amusement park open 9 or 10 hours a day!

[Nick]

The key thing, in my view, is to ensure that at least 50% of the site is retained as an amusement park. That does not include other leisure development, car parking, retail, restaurants, etc. The Local Plan is clear that only a "limited" area can be redeveloped as long as it secures the future of Dreamland. Therefore 50% is the absolute minimum we should accept.

I feel that we need to read the brief very carefully, as at times it states that 50% should be an amusement park, then at other times it talks about the 50% including other things. We need to ensure that there is clarity and consistency.

In principle, I think we should try and be as positive as we can about this brief, as it has been put together by several organisations who have all signed up to it (Thanet District Council, Margate Renewal Partnership, Kent County Council, English Partnerships). I think that if we all make it clear that we want the brief to ensure that no less than 50% is amusement park then we have a real chance of getting the brief improved. In my view, we will achieve more by working together than we will be just simply objecting outright.

However, those members who believe that 50% is too little should fill in the online form and state clearly that this is what they think in the comments box at the end. After all, don't forget that an independent inspector backed us on retention of most of the site as an amusement park, so a comment along these lines would be perfectly justified. The worst thing we can all do is ignore this consultation.

I am not too worried about the residential issue as Dreamland already has residential development backing onto it. The key thing is to ensure that the amusement park, whether a modern or heritage park, is more than just a token gesture.

Nick

[kevinashe]

just filled in the survey,thanks for the link nick.

[EAS]

However, those members who believe that 50% is too little should fill in the online form and state clearly that this is what they think in the comments box at the end. After all, don't forget that an independent inspector backed us on retention of most of the site as an amusement park, so a comment along these lines would be perfectly justified. The worst thing we can all do is ignore this consultation.

Yup.

[Nick]

For those who don't know, this is the survey link:

http://www.thanet.gov.uk/Files/dreamlan ... _brief.htm

You can also read more on our News page, with links to all the relevant documentation (not all of which is actually on the Council's website!):

http://www.joylandbooks.com/scenicrailway/news.htm

[Jim Douglas Jr.]

Repeat business and change are essential to a place like this. Size matters.

I also think over the next 10-15 years, there are going to be a LOT of wayward vintage amusements that are going to need a home.

[Nick]

The News page has been updated with the events of the past few weeks:

http://www.joylandbooks.com/scenicrailway/news.htm

[EAS]

Hopefully we can all find a few more quid to put into the waterchute fund in 2008. We dun brill so far, but a bit more ready required I gather?

"We can now confirm that the amount raised so far is a magnificent £1,195.50. A final push to reach £1,500 should cover all the costs for now.

And in case anyone misses it on the News page update, do please watch the Christmas message, featuring Our Great and Glorious Campaign Leadership Team

Finally, can the campaign team wish everyone a Happy Christmas. Our clickable Christmas message comes courtesy of Susan Marsh: Happy Christmas from the Save Dreamland Campaign!

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1122826298