Save Dreamland Campaign
| Join us. It's
free.
Our Aims The aims of the Save Dreamland Campaign are:
Background to the Campaign Find out what the Campaign has been up to since it was formed in January 2003 by browsing through our News page, which takes you right back to the beginning. Alternatively, for a brief potted history, download our Background to the Campaign document (PDF Format). The Team The Save Dreamland Campaign is led by Nick Laister, the person who secured heritage status for the Scenic Railway in 2002 when it became a Grade II listed building. Nick is a chartered town planner and is currently Planning Director at RPS, the UK's largest planning consultancy. He is also a leading authority on the UK theme park industry, acting on behalf of several UK and international theme park operators and developers. He is editor of the Joyland Books website, and co-owner of Skelter Publishing. Nick is supported at the local level by Sarah Vickery, who is on the Board of Margate arts group Limbo, is a member of Margate Town Partnership’s Marketing Group, writes for the local magazine Isle and owns and runs the Grade 1 listed Shell Grotto in Margate. She moved to Margate with her family in 2001 to take over the Grotto which she has known and loved since childhood. Before this Sarah was a journalist specialising in arts and travel, writing for a range of magazines and newspapers and editing books. Nick and Sarah are supported by formidable planning campaigner, Susan Marsh MBE and Scenic Railway brakeman, Dave Collard. Click here for more information about the Campaign team. Our Vision The Campaign's vision for the site is for its complete upgrade and modernisation in the hands of a committed operator. Several operators have expressed a serious interest in acquiring the site and investing in new rides, attractions and infrastructure. Dreamland will be a modern, safe family theme park, centred around the Scenic Railway, and will become one of the South of England's leading tourism destinations. This can only be achieved if Thanet District Council ensures the site's continuation as an amusement park by including policies in its Local Plan and by making appropriate development control decisions. This approach has been successfully followed by councils at Great Yarmouth and Blackpool, amongst others, and will ensure that the significant private sector investment in the amusement park that has been promised can come forward. The Save Dreamland Campaign is now administered by The Dreamland Trust. The Trust has four trustees: Nick Laister (Chairman): Nick founded the Save Dreamland Campaign and was instrumental in securing listed building status for the Scenic Railway. Nick works within the visitor attractions industry as a planning consultant, acting on behalf of several UK and international theme park operators. More... Sarah Vickery (Honorary Treasurer): Sarah is Campaign Coordinator. Operating from the Grade I listed Shell Grotto, one of Margate's most popular tourist attractions, Sarah is monitoring progress at a local level and liaising with local organisations. Sarah has a wealth of knowledge about the tourism industry in the Isle of Thanet. More... Susan Marsh MBE (Honorary Secretary): Susan became actively involved in the campaign in 2003 and undertook the advocacy for the Local Plan Public Inquiry. Susan brought knowledge of community involvement in planning matters and experience of various public inquiries. More... Mick Twyman (Trustee): Mick helped start the Campaign and has been a constant hardworking supporter. He is well known in Margate, and is Secretary and Treasurer of the Margate Historical Society. He has given a lifetime of voluntary service to the town. The Trust has four objects: (a) to promote the use of all or some of the land known as Dreamland as an area designated as an amusement park for recreation and leisure-time occupations. (b) to advance education by raising awareness of the historical value of the Scenic Railway situated within the area of land known as Dreamland and the amusement park rides and attractions acquired (c) to preserve the heritage of amusement park rides and attractions by acquiring them and locating them on the site known as Dreamland for the benefit of the general public. (d) to promote regeneration in the central area of Margate known variously as the seafront or the promenade area between the Clock Tower and the Railway Station and its environs. We are sure that these encapsulate everything we all work for. What happens next? So much has happened over the past few years that it is impossible to summarise it here without it becoming out of date almost immediately. Please visit the News page to catch up on events. But most importantly, we need you to join the Campaign and support us. The Campaign is already speaking on behalf of more than 13,000 people who want to see Dreamland and the Scenic Railway survive. These range from local residents and businesses of Margate to local, national and international organisations such as the Margate Civic Society, Isle of Thanet Hotel and Guest House Association, European Coaster Club, Roller Coaster Club of Great Britain and SAVE Britain's Heritage. Find out what some of our members are saying by clicking here.
|
Other Links Latest News |
Return to Joyland Books: for the biggest selection of amusement park books on the Web!
