The
latest news from the Save Dreamland Campaign:
Tuesday, 31 January 2012
|
January 2012 newsletter available for download |
| The
January 2012 issue of the
Dreamland Trust Newsletter
is now available to download. This provides an update on work on the
Dreamland Margate project by the Dreamland Trust. This has already been sent by email to all those who
have signed up for the Campaign. If you would like to get a copy of the
newsletter before it appears on this website, please join our
mailing list. |
Sunday, 15 January 2012
|
Dreamland Public Inquiry
completes first week |
| The first
week of the Public
Inquiry into Thanet District Council’s bid to compulsorily purchase the
Dreamland site is now over, with the Council having cross-examined a
number of the landowner's witnesses. A summary of each day's proceedings
can be viewed
here. The Inquiry continues from Tuesday next week, and it is
expected that the Council's first witnesses will give evidence before
the end of the week, with the first Council witness being Nick Laister,
Chairman of The Dreamland Trust. Thanet District Council has set up a
special
Dreamland web page with detailed information on the inquiry and
including statements from Council witnesses.
The Inquiry has been covered extensively
in the local media: Your Thanet,
Isle of Thanet Gazette, Thanet Extra on
Friday 6th,
Monday 9th and
Friday 13th January,
Kent on Sunday,
BBC News,
Kent News,
This is Kent,
Attractions Management. It has also been covered on
CoasterBuzz,
Ozseeker,
Thanet Press Blog and
William Scobie's Blog. |
Saturday, 7 January 20112
|
Dreamland Public Inquiry
to start |
| The Public
Inquiry into Thanet District Council’s bid to compulsorily purchase the
Dreamland site starts on Tuesday 10 January and will see the Council and
The Dreamland Trust set out their case as to why they believe a
Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) is the only way forward for this key
site for Margate’s regeneration. The council originally served the CPO
notice in June 2010. The council
is working in partnership with the Dreamland Trust to create a world
first for the site, an amusement park of thrilling historic rides, with
classic side shows, cafés, restaurants, special events, festivals and
gardens. The project will also celebrate the British seaside and popular
culture, with a focus on youth cultural heritage. It is a major part of
Margate’s regeneration programme, creating volunteer, learning, training
and employment opportunities. |
 |
The first stage of the project will see:
- the restoration of the Grade II*
listed Scenic Railway, the historic rides collection and the Grade
II listed menagerie cages, along with repairs to the Grade II*
listed Dreamland Cinema building,
- the reopening of the main park
entrance,
- the introduction of a dedicated
learning centre, exhibition area and community space,
- the refurbishment of the existing
car park and new events space, which will also double as an overflow
car park.
This is now fully funded, with £3.7
million from the Sea Change fund, £3 million from the council and £3
million from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).
The HLF grant will be available to fund
project costs, once the council has demonstrated full control over the
Dreamland site to the HLF’s satisfaction. Despite lengthy negotiations
with the land owners, there was no progress in transferring the
amusement park site to the council, leaving no option but to take CPO
action.
Chair of The Dreamland Trust, Nick
Laister, said: "The Dreamland Trust fully supports the action being
taken by Thanet District Council to secure the regeneration of the
Dreamland site. Given the lack of progress by the landowners, who have
owned the site since 2005, it is essential that the CPO succeeds;
otherwise this once-in-a-generation opportunity to reopen the park and
repair these important listed buildings will be lost. We believe that
our joint proposals for the site are deliverable, viable and will create
a unique visitor attraction for Margate.
"There are no other proposals on the
table that will retain the site as a tourist attraction, as required by
the Local Plan, and which are deliverable and sustainable. Our proposals
will keep the entire site in amusement park use and return Dreamland to
the status that it enjoyed until very recently, at the heart of
Margate's visitor appeal. I will be personally attending the public
inquiry and giving evidence in support of the CPO on behalf of The
Dreamland Trust."
Leader of Thanet District Council,
Cllr. Clive Hart, said: “Doing nothing on the Dreamland site is not
acceptable. It’s already remained vacant and virtually unused for more
than five years now and I understand the previous council administration
has spent the last couple of years looking at various proposals from the
landowners, trying to reach an amicable solution with them. It’s our
view that the landowners’ proposals won’t achieve the regeneration of
Dreamland.
“Having already spent a considerable
amount of time and money trying to come to an agreement with the
landowners, the council is left with compulsory purchase of the site as
the only way forward. Dreamland is a precious asset, not just for people
in Thanet, but the whole country and we cannot afford to lose it. The
council and the Dreamland Trust have the desire, ambition and resources
to get the first phase of work done on the site. This will then
encourage further investment for future phases.”
The council’s contractors Coombs
(Canterbury) Ltd. started work on the Dreamland Cinema building in May
2011, after the council served a series of Urgent Works Notices on the
owners of the building. So far, structural repairs have been carried out
to the steel frame and concrete and to the doors and windows, along with
re-pointing. Some of the roof structure has also been replaced, due to
its poor condition. The work is expected to be completed by the spring.
The Public Inquiry is expected to last
for approximately two weeks, although as it will not sit every day, it
may last until the end of January. The Inquiry is being held in the
Council Chamber in Cecil Street, Margate and is open to the public. More
details of the Inquiry can be found on the
Council's website.
Once the Inquiry concludes, a report
from the Planning Inspector is expected in late February or early March.
This will then be submitted to the Secretary of State, who will make a
decision on the case. This may not be known until May or June.
Councillor starts petition
Dane Valley ward councillor William
Scobie has started a petition to present to the Inspector at the
Inquiry. Up until the 10th January he will be running this petition to
make it absolutely clear that people want Dreamland back up and running.
If anyone is interested in getting involved in the petition please
contact William on 07792416865 or
email him. He
is posting regular updates on how the petition is going on his
blog.
On his blog, William says: "I am not
going to suggest that this campaign is necessarily going to change the
decision as they will be looking at the planning side of it, however we
need to make sure that the Planning Inspector is in no doubt as to what
the people of Margate and Thanet want for the Dreamland Site."
You can also help William by printing
the petition and getting signatures yourself. It can be
downloaded here.
CPO
in the news The
Dreamland CPO Inquiry features extensively in the local press, including
Your Thanet,
Isle of Thanet Gazette and
Kent Online, |
Sunday, 18 December 2011
|
Dreamland sign
shines
again |
| Dreamland's
iconic lights were switched on at a special event on the evening of 16
December and will be lit nightly for the festive period until Sunday 1
January 2012. The work is being paid for by money that Thanet District
Council received in 2009 from the Sea Change Fund through the Department
for Culture, Media and Sport.
Contractors have been carrying out major repairs to the grade II* listed
Cinema building since May 2011. The work was started after a series of
Urgent Works Notices were served on the owners of the building earlier
this year. To date, the contractors have been carrying out re-pointing
and structural repairs to the steel frame and concrete, and to the doors
and windows. Some of the roof structure has also had to be replaced, due
to its poor condition. The work is expected to be completed by spring
2012.
The majority of the exterior work to
the Cinema building has now been completed, with the next phase due to
look at the interior. This will include restoring power to the organ,
which has not been used since power was cut off to it in 2005. Once
power is restored, the council will be inviting David Wattenbach, who
rebuilt the organ following the 1987 hurricane, to assess its condition.
More photographs on our
Facebook page. |

Photograph: Dave Collard and Leslie
Burden |
Tuesday, 6 December 2011
|
New project director joins
The Dreamland Trust |
| Mike Nuttall
has joined The Dreamland Trust as its new Project Director. Mike has a
strong commercial background with a particular focus on leisure,
entertainment and tourism led regeneration developments in the UK,
working alongside a number of public and private sector partners. He
brings with him a wealth of skills essential for taking the Dreamland
Project forward.
Of his new appointment Mike said; “I am
genuinely excited by the opportunity to help deliver Dreamland and work
with the local community and stakeholders to make sure the next,
exciting phase of Margate's regeneration story unfolds successfully.
This is all about fun, excitement and ensuring the local community is at
the heart of Dreamland”. |
 |
Mike’s portfolio includes Managing Director at Apollo Resorts & Leisure
Ltd, Managing Director Casinos and International Retail for Ladbrokes
plc and Store Operations Director (Dixons) for DSG International Ltd
with success in identifying and delivering effective long term
regeneration strategies, event and operational planning, year round
tourism provision and identifying specific challenges and solutions for
sea side resort opportunities.
Chair of The Dreamland Trust, Nick
Laister, said: "I am delighted to welcome Mike Nuttall to the Dreamland
Trust. Mike brings a strong commercial focus to the project, which is
really important at this stage as we move towards making a start on
site. Mike's knowledge, energy and enthusiasm for tourism-based
regeneration, particularly at seaside resorts, makes him the perfect man
for the job and he joins us at a really exciting time for the project.
Welcome on board the Dreamland roller coaster Mike!" |
Sunday, 27 November 2011
|
Major article on Dreamland in the Isle of Thanet Gazette |
| Friday's
Isle of Thanet Gazette features a major article on Dreamland
following the announcement that the park will receive a £3m grant from
Heritage Lottery Fund. The article covers the history of the campaign to
save the park, features an interview with Dreamland Trust chair Nick
Laister and contributions from Thanet District Council Leader Bob
Bayford, Labour Leader Clive Hart and Littlehampton's Harbour Park
Managing Director Gary Smart.
View online... |
Saturday, 26 November 2011
|
Resorts and Ports: New book features
chapter on Dreamland |
The book, Resorts and Ports: European Seaside Towns Since 1700, edited by Peter Borsay and John K. Walton, has just been
published by Channel View. A chapter of the book, by Jason Wood, focuses mainly on Dreamland and
the work of the Save Dreamland Campaign and Dreamland Trust. It covers
the closing of the park, the development of plans for a heritage
amusement park, the efforts of the Campaign in securing rides for the
project and takes the reader through the various trials and tribulations faced by the
project. Jason Wood is strongly supportive of the project, and offers a
very interesting perspective on the project to reopen
Dreamland as an amusement park of historic rides.
Click here for more information on Amazon.co.uk
(currently offering a 19% discount). |
 |
Thursday, 24 November 2011
|
Minister for Tourism and
Heritage congratulates Dreamland |
| On his
blog, Minister for Tourism and Heritage John Penrose gives "a
big cheer" for Dreamland on the news that it has received
a grant of £3m from Heritage Lottery Fund. He describes the proposal as
"a brilliant fusion of my departmental interests, and a worthy
complement to the Turner Contemporary Gallery recently opened next
door".
The news of Dreamland's success also
now features on the
Heritage Lottery Fund website, taking pride of place as its
lead
story. |
 |
Wednesday, 23 November 2011
Tuesday, 22 November 2011
|
Heritage Lottery Fund awards £3m to
Dreamland Margate |
| The Heritage
Lottery Fund (HLF) has awarded a confirmed grant of £3 million towards
the Dreamland Margate project, it was announced today.
The HLF grant is match funding to the
Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s Sea Change grant of £3.7m and
Thanet District Council’s contribution of £4m. The money will be used
by the Dreamland Trust to restore Dreamland Margate and create a unique
visitor attraction for the UK - the world’s first amusement park of
historic rides with classic side shows, cafés, restaurants, special
events, festivals and gardens and a celebration of our British seaside
and popular culture with youth culture heritage at its heart.
Nick Laister, Chairman of The Dreamland
Trust said; “The Dreamland Trust is delighted that the Heritage Lottery
Fund has awarded our project a substantial grant. This puts in place all
the funding we now need to enable us to reopen Dreamland Margate and at
the same time secure the future of its three remarkable listed
structures, the Scenic Railway roller coaster, Dreamland Cinema and
‘Lord’ George Sanger’s Menagerie cages. These will form the centrepieces
of the world’s first amusement park of thrilling historic rides, which
will open at Dreamland in summer 2013.
"On behalf of The Dreamland Trust I
would like to thank our partners, Thanet District Council, our
consultant team and, most of all, our supporters for sticking with us
for so many years. Hold tight – we’re nearly there!” |

Above: Chairman of The Dreamland Trust
Nick Laister (left) with Leader of Thanet District Council Bob Bayford
outside Dreamland Margate on the announcement that the Heritage Lottery
Fund is awarding the project £3m. |
|
The revival of Dreamland is a major component of Margate’s regeneration,
providing a substantial visitor attraction which will generate at least
350,000 annual visits, along with valuable learning, training and
employment opportunities. The park will also have provision for a
dedicated learning centre, exhibition space, community room, performance
area, screenings, special events, festivals, and a sensory garden and
allotment created by volunteers.
Stuart McLeod, Head of the Heritage
Lottery Fund for the South East, said: “This project has huge potential
to entertain, intrigue, and delight. As Margate’s answer to an early
Disneyland, the Heritage Lottery Fund is delighted to award this
substantial investment to Dreamland, and once restored to its former
glory it will not only bring alive the historic rides of yesteryear but
boost tourism too.”
Dreamland’s origins date back to the
1860s when the site, then known as the Hall by the Sea, was operated by
the well-known caterers, Spiers and Pond. In 1874 the famous circus
showman, ‘Lord’ George Sanger took over the site introducing his
menagerie of wild and exotic animals. The site was later taken over by
entrepreneur, John Henry Iles in 1919 who spent 20 years developing the
site into Dreamland. The park last operated in 2006 and since then has
hosted a number of major events.
Leader of Thanet District Council,
Cllr. Bob Bayford, said: “We’re delighted with this news, especially as
it completes the funding needed for the first stage of the project.
Dreamland is a key site for Margate’s regeneration and that’s why the
council has been working with the Dreamland Trust to bring it back into
use. This year is turning out to be a major milestone for Margate’s
regeneration, with the opening of Turner Contemporary and the hundreds
of thousands of visitors they have bought to the town, the Queen’s visit
and now this announcement from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Our next job
is now to get the Compulsory Purchase Order confirmed, so that Margate
can be home to a world first that will attract thousands more to the
town.”
The HLF funding will be released once
the Compulsory Purchase Order on the site has been confirmed and will
allow for completion of Stage 1 of the first phase of the project
involving the restoration of the Grade II* listed Scenic Railway to full
working condition – including construction of a new Scenic Railway
station to replace the original one destroyed by an arson attack in
2008, restoration of the historic rides collection and Grade II listed
menagerie cages, repairs to the Grade II* listed Dreamland Cinema and
reopening of the main park entrance along with landscaping works.
The second phase of the project will be
the installation of further rides and then the full restoration of the
Cinema building, which is subject to funding. The partners are confident
this grant award and emerging interest in the project will stimulate
further investment in the Project.
Click here to see the
new Dreamland Masterplan,
which shows around 50% of the site used for rides, with the remainder
used for parking and events. Rides and attractions are then likely to
expand onto some of this additional land over the coming years. And
click here to see an
artist's impression of the newly designed Scenic Railway station. |
Monday, 14 November 2011
Article on
Dreamland Margate
The Planning Resource blog features an
interesting article on Margate by Tim Stansfield, focussing largely on Dreamland
and the proposed Tesco at Arlington.
Click here to view...
Saturday, 12 November 2011
Kent on
Saturday
Today's Kent on Saturday includes an article on
the forthcoming Compulsory Purchase Order public inquiry.
Click here to view...
Thursday, 10 November 2011
Dreamland
sign
BBC Radio Kent featured a story on the
Dreamland sign today. Jo Burns talked to the Dreamland Trust's Jan Leandro about
the iconic sign on the cinema building fin. In case you missed it, the story is
reported on the
BBC News website.
Tuesday, 8 November 2011
Dreamland in
the news
The Isle of Thanet Gazette on Friday reported
that the covers are coming off the Dreamland Cinema tower and this will reveal
the newly restored illuminated Dreamland signage.
Read story...
Today's Thanet Times provides an update on the
Dreamland Compulsory Purchase Order public inquiry, with quotes from Council
Leader Bob Bayford and chairman of the Dreamland Trust Nick Laister.
Read story... This news is also covered by
Attractions Management and
BBC News.
Sunday, 30 October 2011
|
Dreamland sign going back up |
| Dreamland’s
iconic signage is going back onto the Cinema building and will soon be
lighting up Margate seafront again.
Under Thanet District Council’s urgent
works notice it has been possible to restore the distinctive 1970s
lighting scheme as a glowing invitation to the new Dreamland. The
letters were removed and sent to a specialist company to be restored;
this involved removing the yellow paint, polishing, re-wiring, painting
the sides, replenishing the bulbs and on-ground testing. The letters are
being remounted as the contractor’s work progresses down the fin, with
each letter being individually tested in situ.
You can view photos of the work being
carried out on the signs at the
Save Dreamland Campaign Facebook page. |
 |
Wednesday, 26 October 2011
|
October newsletter available for download |
| The
October issue of the
Dreamland Trust Newsletter
is now available to download. This provides an update on work on the
Dreamland Margate project by the Dreamland Trust. This has already been sent by email to all those who
have signed up for the Campaign. If you would like to get a copy of the
newsletter before it appears on this website, please join our
mailing list. |
Thursday, 20 October 2011
At the planning committee last night the
application to build a Tesco on the Arlington site was referred to the next full
council meeting, which is on 8 December.
Wednesday, 19 October 2011
Further
objections to proposed Arlington development
The Dreamland Trust has written to Thanet
District Council (letter dated 17 October 2011), objecting to the proposed
redevelopment of the Arlington site. This is on the basis of misleading advice
given to members by the Conservation Section in advance of tonight's committee
meeting. View letter...
A further letter of objection has been
submitted on behalf of a group of Arlington residents by planning solicitor
Richard Buxton.
View letter...
Friday, 14 October 2011
|
Dreamland Trust objects to proposed Arlington Tesco development |
| The Dreamland Trust has objected to
the proposed Tesco development at Arlington based on the effect that the
proposed supermarket will have on the setting of the recently upgraded
Grade II* Scenic Railway and the other listed buildings on the site.
There are also concerns about potential harm to the fabric of the listed
animal cages and enclosure, which are fragile structures. In a letter
dated 12 October 2011, Dreamland
Trust chairman Nick Laister also criticises the report produced by
heritage expert Dr Chris Miele.
View the full letter here.
 |
Friday, 7 October 2011
|
Dreamland Trust to object to proposed Arlington Tesco development |
| The Dreamland Trust will be objecting
to the proposed plans to build a 7,565 square metre superstore on top of
the existing multi-storey Arlington car park adjacent to Dreamland on
the grounds of the impact the development will have on the setting of
Dreamland site’s heritage assets.
The application is being reconsidered by
Thanet District Council following the decision by the Department for
Culture, Media and Sport to upgrade the listing of the Scenic Railway
from Grade II to Grade II*.
Dreamland Trust Chairman Nick Laister
states: “We have reviewed the expert report produced for Thanet District
Council, which was funded by the developer, and this seems to largely
rely on the fact that the setting of the Scenic Railway is already
degraded. It fails to recognise that the park is to be rebuilt and that
English Heritage has been closely involved in this project so was fully
aware of it when advising that the listing of the Scenic Railway should
be upgraded. We believe that this work needs to be reviewed in the
knowledge that the setting of the Scenic Railway is not lost and is
likely to be seriously undermined by this development.” |
Sunday, 2 October 2011
|
September newsletter available for download |
| The
September issue of the
Dreamland Trust Newsletter
is now available to download. This provides an update on work on the
Dreamland Margate project by the Dreamland Trust. This has already been sent by email to all those who
have signed up for the Campaign. If you would like to get a copy of the
newsletter before it appears on this website, please join our
mailing list. Dreamland is
mentioned in a
BBC News
report into Oscar-winning Hollywood filmmaker Arnold Schwartzman's
return to his home town of Margate to make a documentary. |
Sunday, 18 September 2011
Sunday, 11 September 2011
|
New book on the demise of
Rotunda Amusement Park, Folkestone |
| A new book
has been released on the demise of Dreamland's sister amusement park in
Folkestone, the Rotunda Amusement Park, which was also owned by Jimmy
Godden. The Rotunda Amusement Park, Folkestone, is one of a number of seaside amusement parks - see also
Frontierland in Morecambe,
Pleasureland in Southport and
Spanish City in Whitley Bay - that have sadly closed in recent years. When the local history writing partnership of Martin Easdown and Linda Sage - authors of
Mr Warwick's Revolving Towers - began in 1996, the Rotunda was one of Folkestone's seaside attractions that they were particularly interested in and they took a number of photographs in 1998 and 2002. The site of the Rotunda has now been levelled in preparation for residential and leisure development. The authors hope that the new limited edition book of only 69 copies,
The Demise of the Rotunda Amusement Park, will serve as a record of its final years.
More... |
 |
Saturday, 10 September 2011
|
English Heritage to visit
Dreamland |
As the
controversy over the proposed Tesco store on the Arlington site rages
on, the
Isle of Thanet Gazette reports on the visit to Dreamland of
English Heritage inspectors. English Heritage will be considering
whether the proposed store will harm the setting
of the Scenic Railway following its upgrade to Grade II* status.
|

Click on the above image to enlarge. |
|
The Council had resolved to grant permission for the redevelopment, but
the upgrading of the Scenic to Grade II* prior to the decision being
issued has resulted in the council agreeing to reconsider the
application (following a threat of legal action by a solicitor
instructed by objectors if they did not).
The artist's impression to the right
(click the photo to enlarge) shows how the proposed store will affect
the setting of the Scenic Railway. If you would like to comment on this
planning application, you can do so
here. |
Saturday, 6 August 2011
A major article on Margate, which features
Dreamland as its central focus, appeared in the Times on 4 August. The article
can be viewed
here.
Wednesday, 13 July 2011
|
Scenic
Railway listing upgraded to II* |
| The listing
for the Scenic Railway has been upgraded from Grade II to Grade
II*. First announced on the
Save
Dreamland Campaign Forum last week, it has now started to be picked up by the
media.
Dreamland Trust Chairman, Nick Laister,
has made the following statement to the media: "It is wonderful news
that the Scenic Railway listing has been upgraded from Grade II to Grade
II*. The Scenic Railway was listed Grade II in March 2002, and this
amendment to its status is an entirely appropriate recognition for this
rare and vulnerable structure, coincidentally coming exactly 10 years
after I first wrote to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport in
July 2001 asking them to consider listing the ride. |

Part of the remains of the Scenic Railway.
Photo: Nick Laister
|
| "It puts the Scenic Railway into the top
6% most important listed buildings in the country. This is a great
springboard for the restoration works that will be starting on the ride
over the coming months."
The news has been covered by
BBC News,
Kent Online,
Kent News and
GoUK. There are also online discussions about the news at
CoasterForce and
RCCGB. The
full press release from Thanet District Council is
here and the release from English Heritage is
here. |
Saturday, 2 July 2011
|
YourThanet features a report
on repair work starting on the Dreamland Cinema.
Click here to download this
report. With thanks to Dave Collard. |
Sunday, 19 June 2011
|
June newsletter available for download |
| The
June issue of the
Dreamland Trust Newsletter
is now available to download. This provides an update on work on the
Dreamland Margate project by the Dreamland Trust. This has already been sent by email to all those who
have signed up for the Campaign. If you would like to get a copy of the
newsletter before it appears on this website, please join our
mailing list. |
Friday, 3 June 2011
|
Compulsory Purchase Order served
on Dreamland |
|
A Compulsory Purchase Order has been served by Thanet District Council
on the Dreamland site, as part of plans to regenerate the site and
create a unique visitor attraction for Margate.
The council is working in partnership with
the Dreamland Trust to create a world first for the site, an amusement
park of thrilling historic rides. The project has already received
funding from the council, Department for Culture, Media and Sport and
the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The council has worked with landowners,
the Margate Town Centre Regeneration Company (MTCRC) to try and achieve
the transfer of the amusement park site, but with no success to date.
The funding that has been secured is also dependent on the council
getting a long lease on the site, which has not been possible so far.
As a result, the council agreed to
start compulsory purchase proceedings on the site, if terms could not be
agreed for the transfer of the freehold of the cinema building and land.
Agreement has not been reached with the landowners, who wanted
guarantees about the scale of development which would be allowed on the
rest of the site. The council was unable to give these guarantees.
The statement of reasons, part of the
Compulsory Purchase Order documents, talks about the situation with the
landowners, stating that: |

The Compulsory Purchase site notice being
posted at the Dreamland site on 3 June 2011. Photograph: Thanet District
Council |
|
“The Council does not consider that the present land owners have acted
expeditiously or appropriately in coming forward with realistic
proposals on any of the Order Land. It is imperative that schemes are
progressed that provide a viable development solution for the whole site
land that improves its appearance, improves the physical environment of
the area and make it a more attractive place to live and visit.”
The Compulsory Purchase Order covers the
whole Dreamland site, to the foot of the embankment of the railway line
at the southern boundary, Arlington Square to the west and the rear of
properties along Belgrave and Eaton Roads to the east. The site also
includes the grade 2* listed Dreamland cinema building along Marine
Terrace.
Leader of the Council, Cllr. Bob
Bayford, said: “The council would obviously prefer to have reached
agreement with the landowners over the Dreamland site, but sadly that’s
not been possible. The simple truth is that we may lose the grant
funding for this project, if we can’t secure the ownership of the land.
Significant funds are being invested in this project and we are not
prepared to jeopardise that investment in the town. We also know how
important the regeneration of Dreamland is to both local people and
Margate’s economic future. That’s another reason for taking this action.
It’s a key site for the town and, along with Turner Contemporary, we
believe what’s being planned for Dreamland will help to turn Margate’s
fortunes around.”
Chair of the Dreamland Trust, Nick
Laister, said: “We had hoped that the compulsory purchase of Dreamland
would not be necessary, but any further delay could have jeopardised the
project. Dreamland is an essential component of Margate’s regeneration,
being in such a prominent location on the seafront, as well as providing
training and employment opportunities for Thanet. We are therefore
pleased that we can now move forward with our preparations for starting
work on this world first visitor attraction.”
The new Dreamland will be the world’s
first amusement park of thrilling historic rides with classic sideshows,
vintage cafes, special events and gardens.
All the landowners affected by the
Compulsory Purchase Order are now being contacted. They have the right
to make an objection in writing. If this happens, then a Public Inquiry
could be held. If the Compulsory Purchase Order is confirmed, then the
council would be given the freehold of the site, meaning that the plans
for Dreamland can proceed.
All of the documentation associated
with the CPO can be downloaded from a
special page on the Thanet District Council website. This
confirms that the remaining areas of the park, outside the heritage
amusement park, will be reserved for public events, car parking for
Dreamland and for possible park expansion. The full area covered by the
CPO can be viewed
here.
BBC News
is reporting that the owners of Dreamland, MTCRC, will object to the
Order, which will mean a public inquiry will need to be held. The news
has also been covered by
Meridian News,
Kent on Sunday and
This is Kent. |
Saturday, 7 May 2011
News of the compulsory purchase order is
featured in today's Kent on Saturday. Click here
to view the article.
Tuesday, 3 May 2011
|
Compulsory Purchase Order to be served on the Dreamland site |
| A Compulsory
Purchase Order is due to be served by Thanet District Council on the
Dreamland site.
Thanet District Council and the
Dreamland Trust are working in partnership to create a unique visitor
attraction for Margate, which will secure the town’s regeneration and
boost the local economy. The new Dreamland will be the world’s first
amusement park of thrilling historic rides with classic sideshows,
vintage cafes, restaurants, special events and gardens.
Millions of pounds have already been
invested by the council, Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the
Heritage Lottery Fund to bring this project to fruition. |

Photograph: Valerie Kirschner |
The council agreed in May 2010 that it would start compulsory purchase
proceedings on the site, if terms were not agreed for the transfer of
the freehold of the cinema building and land. At the time, this had been
agreed in principle by the landowners, the Margate Town Centre
Regeneration Company. The land would then be given by the council to the
Dreamland Trust on a long lease for a peppercorn rent.
Since then, the council has held
detailed negotiations with the landowners, but it has not been possible
to agree an acceptable position to the council. As a result, the
council’s Cabinet agreed on Thursday 28 April to launch compulsory
purchase proceedings.
Chief Executive Richard Samuel said:
“We are determined to continue the regeneration of Margate, which has
already seen an enormous boost with the opening of Turner Contemporary,
with the project to open a world first at Dreamland. Because of the
importance of this site to the town’s future, we need to take action to
ensure that the heritage amusement park goes ahead. Huge amounts of
money have already been invested to bring this project to fruition and
we can wait no longer for agreement from the landowners. This is not
something we wanted to do, but the failure of the owners to reach a
sensible agreement has left us with no choice but to take compulsory
purchase action. We have been in negotiations for many months now and we
feel that we have been generous to a fault. This project needs to go
ahead. We are fully committed to supporting the Dreamland Trust in
making this happen and that’s why we’re taking this action.”
Chair of the Dreamland Trust, Nick
Laister, said: “The Dreamland Trust is delighted that Thanet District
Council has shown its strong commitment to the Dreamland Margate project
and is proceeding with the compulsory purchase of the Dreamland
amusement park site. With all the technical work now complete and a
substantial part of the funding in place, the acquisition of the site by
the Council will allow the Trust to commence work on the implementation
of what is a key project for the regeneration of Margate. We look
forward to working with Thanet District Council and our other partners
to deliver the world's first amusement park of thrilling historic rides
on the Dreamland site."
Dreamland will provide training and
employment for the local community and help re-establish Margate as a
top visitor destination.
This news is reported at
BBC News,
KentOnline,
Heart and
This is Kent, and was featured this evening on
Meridian Tonight and BBC South East TV news.
Click here for the press release on the Thanet District Council
website. |
Tuesday, 12 April 2011
|
April newsletter available for download |
| The
April issue of the
Dreamland Trust Newsletter
is now available to download. This provides an update on work on the
Dreamland Margate project by the Dreamland Trust. This has already been sent by email to all those who
have signed up for the Campaign. If you would like to get a copy of the
newsletter before it appears on this website, please join our
mailing list. |
Monday, 11 April 2011
|
Dreamland hoarding goes up! |
| A new
hoarding has been erected on Margate seafront giving a tantalising
glimpse of what is to come. In addition to specially commissioned
artwork, the hoarding provides information about the Dreamland project.
More detailed photographs of the hoarding can be seen on our
Construction
Photo Gallery. With the
press preview for the Turner Contemporary last week, media interest in
Margate and Dreamland is high.
The Telegraph interviews Dreamland Trust director and Shell
Grotto owner Sarah Vickery, who
tells Joanne O'Connor that she believes Dreamland will be more important
to Margate's regeneration than the Turner Contemporary. Dreamland is
also mentioned in an article in the
Guardian. |
 |
Friday, 8 April 2011
The opening of Turner Contemporary has
resulted in a large amount of press coverage, some of which has mentioned
Dreamland in a positive way. Matthew Cain on
Channel 4 News describes the concept of the Dreamland project as "great"
and Edwin Heathcote, writing in the
Financial Times, says that the "planned restoration of the stunning Art
Deco fairground, Dreamland" will help Turner Contemporary make a difference to
Margate. And according to the
New York
Times, the Turner Contemporary project has "spurred" the restoration of
Dreamland.
Saturday, 26 March 2011
|
Dreamland in the media |
The April
2011 mentions Dreamland in a short article about Margate's accelerating
comeback. Click here to view a scan
of the page.
|
|
Artist in residence |
Kent County
Council’s Arts development Unit, on behalf of the Kent Cultural Baton
Board, wishes to appoint an Artist in Residence for Dreamland, Margate,
as part of the Kent Cultural Baton programme. The residency will take
place on selected dates between 16 April and 27 May 2011, to be
negotiated.
The complete budget is £3000.
Deadline for proposals – Monday 4 April 2011
The Kent Cultural Baton is a unique and innovative artwork devised and
created by artist Nicole Mollett. It is a rare 1950s American airstream,
adapted into a mobile creative space that can capture the sounds,
visuals and stories of each ‘host’ place as it travels around Kent to
reveal the ‘hidden’. The Baton is revealing worlds within a world,
bringing to light the character and textures that identify a place and
make it distinctive.
The residency should centre upon Dreamland, which lies at the heart of
Margate and for many generations was the premier amusement park in the
South of England.
The residency programme is open to artists working in any art form and
collaborative proposals are welcomed. The Kent Cultural Baton Board is
looking to engender intercultural dialogue among artists and
international applications are also welcomed.
Please see the
brief
for more information. |
Sunday, 20 March 2011
|
March newsletter available for download |
| The
March issue of the
Dreamland Trust Newsletter
is now available to download. This provides an update on work on the
Dreamland Margate project by the Dreamland Trust. This has already been sent by email to all those who
have signed up for the Campaign. If you would like to get a copy of the
newsletter before it appears on this website, please join our
mailing list. |
Thursday, 23 February 2011
|
Bryant lecture/media
coverage/more photos |
| Dreamland
project director Jonathan Bryant has been invited to give a public
lecture at Canterbury Christ Church University, Northwood Road,
Broadstairs CT10 2WA on Thursday 3 March, 2011 at 6pm. He will give the
audience an insight into the past and the future of Dreamland. The
lecture starts at 6pm and is open to the public. Reservations are
required - to book a place, please call 01843 609184.
Dreamland was recently mentioned in an
article in the
Guardian.
More photographs of progress at
Dreamland have been added to the
Construction
Gallery.
|
 |
Friday, 18 February 2011
| Dreamland
delays |
| Following a
press release issued by The Dreamland Trust, the Isle of Thanet Gazette is reporting that
Dreamland Margate may not fully reopen until 2013. This follows delays with the transfer of the Dreamland site from its current owners, Margate Town
Centre Regeneration Company. This report is
here. The Dreamland Trust's project
director, Jonathan Bryant, has stated that despite the delays in
the land transfer the Trust will continue to work to ensure
there are attractions on-site for 2011 and 2012: "The official
opening may be put back slightly, but we are committed to
offering attractions this year and next. We have always said
this is a phased project." More details of the attractions to be
made available at Dreamland will be released as plans progress.
|
 |
Thursday, 17 February 2011
Major activity at the Dreamland Cinema today
with scaffolding being erected onto the tower by crane. The photographs were
taken from Arlington House by Valerie Kirschner. Click
here to view the
photos.
Thursday, 10 February 2011
|
Dreamland media coverage |
|
BBC News carries a report on the work taking place at the
Dreamland Cinema, based around an interview with Thanet District
Council's heritage adviser Nick Dermott.
Departing Thanet Council chief executive
Richard Samuel says he is excited about Dreamland in the
Isle of Thanet Gazette. And
The Guardian mentions Dreamland in a look at "mouldy old"
Margate.
|
| Finally, founder of the Save Dreamland
Campaign, Nick Laister, has launched a Facebook page for his project to
build the UK's first tourist attraction designed for children with
special needs (but open to all):
facebook.com/fairytalefarm |
|
Saturday, 5 February 2011
|
Dreamland newsletter/new
photo gallery |
| The
February issue of the
Dreamland Trust Newsletter
is now available to download. This provides an update on work on the
Dreamland Margate project by the Dreamland Trust. This has already been sent by email to all those who
have signed up for the Campaign. If you would like to get a copy of the
newsletter before it appears on this website, please join our
mailing list. We have also added
a new photo gallery showing
Dreamland park maps and leaflets through the years. |
 |
Wednesday, 12 January 2011
|
Pinball Parlour news
report and new photos |
| The Dreamland
Trust's Pinball Parlour event just before Christmas is featured in the
Thanet Gazette. We have
added some more photos of progress at Dreamland in our
Construction
Photo Gallery. |
Wednesday, 29 December 2010
|
New photos in gallery |
| Over the last
few days we have added two sets of photos to our online gallery of
vintage Dreamland photographs. The first set show views of
Dreamland in the 1980s, with its iconic attractions dominating
the Margate skyline. With thanks to Martin Turner.
Thanks also to Peter Sutton for sending
some fantastic photos of Dreamland between 1969 and 2006. The new
Peter Sutton Gallery
includes a rare photo of the Astro-Liner ride (right).
And don't forget to visit the
construction
gallery of work at the Dreamland site, which is updated
regularly. |
 |
Friday, 24 December 2010
|
Gazette reports on
commencement of works at Dreamland |
| Today's Isle
of Thanet Gazette has devoted its front page to the work that has
finally started on the Dreamland site. The front page
article covers the works to the Cinema building, following the
issuing of an Urgent Works Notice by Thanet District Council. The work
to the Cinema is being funded by grants that have been awarded to the
Dreamland Trust and Thanet District Council.
A second
article in today's Gazette looks forward to work starting on the
Scenic Railway early next year once the company has been selected to
carry out the work. The Dreamland Trust is considering tenders submitted
by various international wooden roller coaster specialists.
The Save Dreamland Campaign website
will be following progress with the works at Dreamland in a
special photo
gallery. We have already uploaded photographs from the first few
days of work.
Chairman of the Dreamland Trust Nick
Laister comments: "Seeing this important restoration work start on the
Cinema is a fantastic end to 2010 and will be closely followed early
next year with works to the Scenic Railway. We still have significant
hurdles to cross, but we are going into 2011 with the prospect of seeing
Dreamland transformed over the next 12 months. On behalf of the
Dreamland Trust, I would like to thank all of the Campaign's members for
their continued support and wish everybody a very Merry Christmas." |

The above photograph,
taken from the Save Dreamland front page, is by
Dave Collard, who is the main person behind the camera in the new
Dreamland
construction photo gallery. |
Saturday, 18 December 2010
|
New photo gallery/Latest
newsletter |
| Scaffolding has now
started appearing on the Dreamland Cinema. Now that work on site has
started, we have launched a new
Photo Gallery,
where on a regular basis we will provide you with the latest photos of
activity from the Dreamland site.
Click here
for the new gallery to see progress on site over the past few days and
check back regularly as we will add new pictures as work progresses. The
December issue of the
Dreamland Trust Newsletter
is now available to download. This provides an update on work on the
Dreamland Margate project by the Dreamland Trust. This has already been sent by email to all those who
have signed up for the Campaign. If you would like to get a copy of the
newsletter before it appears on this website, please join our
mailing list. |
|
Thursday, 16 December 2010
|
New Dreamland Margate
website launched/Works start at Dreamland |
| As the first real signs
of activity start on the Dreamland site, the Dreamland Trust has today
launched its brand new website
www.dreamlandmargate.com.
The site provides regularly updated information on progress with the
Dreamland development, the rides we have secured and how to get
involved. It also features a fascinating timeline of Dreamland history
along with information on the Dreamland Trust and its Project Team.
There is also a news page which will provide information on the
Dreamland Trust's activities. The
new website is launched on the day that visible work starts at
Dreamland, with the Cinema building now fenced off along Marine Terrace
to allow for scaffolding to be erected from tomorrow. Work on the cinema
roof and electrics should start in January, then in February/March we
are expecting work to start on the restoration and rebuild of the Scenic
Railway roller coaster. We will keep you updated on progress and will
post photographs as work gears up. |

www.dreamlandmargate.com |
Saturday, 11 December 2010
|
A
sparkling Christmas celebration for all the family |
| The Dreamland Trust
presents The Pinball
Parlour, a sparkling Christmas celebration for all the family.
For one week only Dreamland will be celebrating Christmas in vintage
amusement arcade style - a unique opportunity to experience, and play, a
selection of classic 1960s, 70s and 80s pinball machines, games and juke
boxes. The celebration runs from
18 to 24 December 2010 at 10am-4pm daily. Find us at The Pie Factory,
Broad Street, Margate CT9 1EW.
FREE entry, no booking required, just a
pocket full of loose change! |
 |
Sunday, 28 November 2010
The Isle of Thanet Gazette reports that a
decision is expected next week on whether Thanet District Council will purchase
the Dreamland site using a compulsory purchase order. The article can be viewed
here.
Wednesday, 24 November 2010
Latest Dreamland Trust
newsletter available for download
The October issue of the
Dreamland Trust Newsletter
is now available to download. This provides an update on work on the
Dreamland Margate project. This was sent by email to all those who
have signed up for the Campaign on 12 November 2010. If you would like to get a copy of the
newsletter before it appears on this website, please join our
mailing list.
Tuesday, 2 November 2010
|
TV alert: Dreamland on
this Sunday's Country Tracks on BBC1 |
| Dreamland will be
featured in this Sunday’s Country Tracks (7 November 2010) on BBC One at
11am. Set your video recorders, PVRs, DVRs and Sky planners! The series
celebrates the British countryside and this week focuses on Kent. Nick Laister was recently interviewed by
G-Force Mag.
|
 |
Sunday, 25 October 2010
Friday's Isle of Thanet Gazette included an item on
the Dreamland Trust's appeal for information on three photographs in its archive
collection.
Click here to read the article.
Saturday, 14 October 2010
|
Share your memories of
Dreamland/Latest Newsletter |
| Share your Dreamland
memories at a family event in Margate on 26 October. Local writer Maggie
Harris will be holidag a free, creative event where everyone is welcome
to attend and share their memories of Dreamland. Drinks are provided.
Booking is essential, by phoning Nicola on
07845 979024. The event is to be held at the Margate Media Centre, King
Street, Margate CT9 1DA.
For a large PDF flyer, click on the
image to the right.
Issue 7 of the
Dreamland Trust Newsletter
is now available to download. This provides an update on work on the
Dreamland Margate project.
This has already been sent by email to all those who
have signed up for the Campaign. If you would like to get a copy of the
newsletter before it appears on this website, please join our
mailing list. |
 |
Sunday, 10 October 2010
|
Dreamland mentioned in
Observer... |
| ...but only very briefly,
in an article on the future for Hastings Pier, which was almost entirely
destroyed by fire last week.
Read On... |
 |
Thursday, 7 October 2010
|
Dreamland in Isle
Magazine/Mick Twyman |
| In the new edition of
Thanet's listings magazine, Isle, Kiki Case reports on the rebirth of
Dreamland. Although the article is highly inaccurate, it sets the work
to develop a 21st Century amusement park attraction at Dreamland in the
context of the park's history.
Click here to view the article.
In the same edition, Thanet District
Council's heritage development advisor Nick Dermott writes about some of
his favourite architecture in Thanet, one of which is the
Scenic Railway.
In other news, Dreamland was mentioned
in last week's launch of the Margate Arts, Creativity and Heritage
Programme, as reported in
Your Thanet News.
And finally a belated mention of the
death of local historian Mick Twyman last month, who was a good friend
of the Save Dreamland Campaign and will be sadly missed by all of us.
|
 |
| Mick was the
founder of the Margate Historical Society and was one of the first
people to actively support the Campaign, meeting with Nick Laister in
January 2003 at the Shell Grotto only days after the Campaign was set
up. He supported the Campaign continuously since those early days and
supplied information and photographs, some of which are displayed in our
Galleries. In 2003, Mick was also the first person to propose
the idea of Dreamland being used as a site to display "working funfair
heritage" - see Comments page. |
Wednesday, 8 September 2010
|
Dreamland in The
Archaeologist |
|
The Archaeologist, the Institute for Archaeologists' colourful
quarterly house-magazine, devotes three pages to Dreamland and amusement
park heritage in the new Autumn 2010 issue.
Michelle Stratton reviews the
conference on amusement park history that took place in Southport in
April, at which Nick Laister spoke about the proposals for the world's
first amusement park of historic rides at Dreamland. There were also
talks on the demise of Pleasureland and the legacy of London's Battersea
Fun Fair.
The major Dreamland item is a two-page
article by heritage consultant Jason Wood, who has been directly
involved in the Dreamland project. In this article, Wood sets out the
background to the Dreamland proposals and why that inspired him to
organise the Southport conference.
View the two
articles. |
 |
Sunday, 29 August 2010
|
Dreamland guided tour |
| Dreamland is offering a
tour of the world famous amusement park site and a presentation about
its future as the world’s first heritage amusement park as part of
Margate Heritage Open Days next month. The guided tour and talk, which
is to be held on Friday 10th September, will take two hours, and the
event starts at Marine Terrace. To book call 01843 609270.
A total of 12 different venues will be
throwing open their doors next
month, as part of Heritage Open Days, which runs from Thursday 9
September until Sunday 12 September. It’s been organised under the
banner of Margate Arts, Creativity, Heritage (MACH).
Click here for a programme of
events in Margate. More here:
www.heritageopendays.org.uk
|

Click for larger image |
Sunday, 22 August 2010
Latest Dreamland Trust
newsletter available for download
Issue 6 of the
Dreamland Trust Newsletter
is now available to download. This provides an update on work on the
Dreamland Margate project. This has already been sent by email to all those who
have signed up for the Campaign. If you would like to get a copy of the
newsletter before it appears on this website, please join our
mailing list.
Monday, 27 July 2010
|
Naked
ambition! |
| Former Scenic Railway
brakeman and long-term Save Dreamland campaigner Dave Collard is
embarking on another rollercoaster ride. But the difference is that this
time he’ll be NAKED!
Dave will be taking part in an attempt
to break the Guinness World Record for the most number of people riding
a rollercoaster naked, whilst also raising funds for charity.
The existing record is 32 people, and
was set on Nemesis at Alton Towers back in 2004.
The attempt – involving 40 people -
will be on the Green Scream rollercoaster at Adventure Island on Sunday
8th August. The aim is to raise awareness and funds for the Southend
Hospital Charitable Foundation's Bosom Pals appeal.
This appeal hopes to raise £750,000 to
bring state-of-the-art imaging and diagnostic equipment to the
Hospital's breast care unit. In addition to providing two digital
mammography machines, the appeal will also fund the latest x-ray and
biopsy equipment, enhancements to scanning machines and an improved
environment for patients.
“My target is to raise £300, and every
couple of pounds pledged really helps,” says Dave. “I’m also hoping that
one day in the not too distant future we’ll be able to stage a new
record attempt on the rebuilt Scenic Railway!”
To support Dave please go to
www.justgiving.com/David-Collard
Right: Man of mystery. Dave Collard
reveals all in Southend in August! |
 |
Saturday, 10 July 2010
Latest Dreamland Trust
newsletter available for download
Issue 4 of the
Dreamland Trust Newsletter
is now available to download. This provides an update on work on the
Dreamland Margate project. This was sent by email a few days ago to all those
who have signed up for the Campaign. If you would like to get a copy of the
newsletter before it appears on this website, please join our
mailing list.
News of the American Coaster
Enthusiasts' donation towards the repairs of the Scenic Railway was
covered by
thisiskent and
Your Thanet.
Tuesday, 6 July 2010
|
Dreamland Trust
acquires unique Big Wheel |
| The Dreamland Trust has
acquired the famous Southsea Corbiére Wheel. Built in 1956, it operated
initially at Coney Beach Amusement Park in Porthcawl before moving to
Southsea's Clarence Pier Amusement Park, where it spent most of its
life. It was acquired by Blackpool Illuminations Manager Richard Ryan in
2001, who restored it, and it then spent 2005 and 2006 operating at
Southport's Pleasureland. Following the closure of Pleasureland, the
ride went into storage in Blackpool.
Following three years of discussions
between Richard Ryan and Dreamland Trust Chairman Nick Laister, the deal
was finally done earlier this year. The inspection and transport of the
ride was organised by Jonathan Bryant and Bob Preedy of the Dreamland
Trust.
The wheel was designed by Henri
Corbiére, a French engineer, and built by ARM (UK) LTD. The design was
state of the art at the time. The design was probably the first to have
'spherical motion' i.e. the whole wheel revolves around its base as well
as the normal vertical plane, such that the gondolas
travel in a gentle spiral path describing
a sphere through space. This concept required new thinking in respect to
the design and construction of the wheel. |

Above: The unique Corbiere Wheel
pictured at Southport Pleasureland in 2005. |
| The Wheel
made its way from Blackpool, via four lorries, and was delivered to
Carter's Steam Fair's yard in Maidenhead on Tuesday 15th June where it
will be restored. It took twelve hours to load up and seven to unload.
It is hoped that the ride can be up and running for 2011. More
information on the Wheel can be found on the
Rides page at
www.dreamlandmargate.com.
In other news, the $5,000 donation by the
American Coaster Enthusiasts continues to receive news coverage,
including
birminghamwired.co.uk and
Attractions Management, and blog site
Big News Margate. |
Monday, 5 July 2010
BBC News
carries a report about the American Coaster Enthusiasts' donation towards
repairs on the Scenic Railway. This news is also covered on the
American Coaster
Enthusiasts' website,
Kent Online and
Heart FM.
Sunday, 4 July 2010
|
Happy Birthday from one Scenic Railway to another! |
| Brooke Pether, Operations
Manager at Melbourne's Luna Park (home of a 98-year-old Scenic Railway -
the oldest continuously operating roller coaster in the world) has sent
a birthday message to Dreamland Margate on the 90th birthday of our
Scenic Railway: "Happy birthday!
90 years is quite an achievement for a person let alone a rollercoaster.
Well done to everyone who has played a part in the success of your
Scenic Railway. We are honoured to be able to wish you all well on this
great day.
"Dave Collard keeps us well informed
here at Melbourne’s Luna Park with the progress of your historic
amusement park due to open in 2012 and we are very excited as it draws
closer. How lucky you are to have someone on board who has so much
passion and enthusiasm for the project. |
 |
"Other exciting events of 2012, our Park’s and our Scenic Railway’s
100th birthday falling on December 13th. What an exciting year for
historic wooden coasters it will be.
"So we say raise a glass to celebrate
the 90th anniversary of the opening of Margate’s Scenic Railway and many
more to come.
"Congratulations from all the team at
Luna Park, Melbourne, Australia." |
Saturday, 3 July 2010
|
Scenic Railway at 90 |
| As the Scenic Railway reaches its 90th
birthday today, the Save Dreamland Campaign is pleased to announce that
the world's largest club of amusement ride enthusiasts, the American
Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE), has donated $5,000 dollars towards the
restoration of the historic structure.
The Scenic Railway is the United Kingdom’s
oldest roller coaster and will be the centrepiece in the world’s first
amusement park of thrilling historic rides at Dreamland Margate, being
developed by the Dreamland Trust. The Trust announced its plans for a
spectacular new 21st Century tourist attraction at the Dreamland
Amusement Park site in 2007. Work on the project, which will cost
£12.5m, is expected to start later this year. |
 |
Chairman of the Dreamland Trust Nick Laister said: “I would like to
thank all of the members of the American Coaster Enthusiasts for this
very generous donation. This demonstrates the level of international
interest in the future of the Scenic Railway, which is a remarkable and
fragile survivor. We will ensure that this donation is used 100% on the
restoration of this roller coaster. I look forward to welcoming the
members of ACE to Dreamland Margate when the Scenic Railway reopens."
ACE was founded in 1978 as a
not-for-profit, all volunteer club to foster and promote the
conservation, appreciation, knowledge and enjoyment of the art of the
classic wooden roller coaster and the contemporary steel coaster.
President of ACE, Mark Cole, says: “The
Scenic Railway is one of very few coasters of this type in the world.
Our support of the Dreamland Trust and their mission to return the
coaster to operational status is similar to the work that ACE did to
restore the oldest coaster in the world several years ago. Preservation
is a major part of the formation and continued work of ACE. We look
forward to returning to ride Scenic Railway in the not to distance
future”.
Celebrate the Scenic Railway's 90th
birthday tonight in Margate at the Lighthouse Bar from 6pm. Everybody is
welcome! |
Thursday, 1 July 2010
|
Scenic at 90
The Scenic reaches the grand old
age of 90 this Saturday, 3rd July.
If you can, please join us in
raising a glass. All are welcome.
Saturday 3rd July, From 6pm
The Lighthouse Bar, Margate Harbour Arm
Find us
by clicking here... |
 |
|
Sunday, 6 June 2010
|
Carters Steam Fair at Dreamland "a
success" |
| Carters Steam Fair
visited Dreamland for three days over the Spring Bank Holiday and
brought Margate seafront back to life. The event was a taster for
the amusement park of vintage rides that will open at Dreamland in
2012 and was a big success.
Dreamland Trust Chairman Nick Laister comments: "If this was a taste
of things to come, then the signs are that there is a big appetite
for what we are proposing at Dreamland. Anna Carter, who owns
Carter's Steam Fair, told me that the Dreamland event was very much
a success, with the park busy on all three days, even in poor
weather. |
 |
"The Fair was pretty much running at capacity over the weekend. And
if there was any doubt about the event's success, Carters have
confirmed that they would like to come back and do it all again, but
next time for longer." "I
also spoke to some of the traders on the seafront about the Carters
event at Dreamland, and they said that this was the best weekend
they have had since Dreamland stopped operating as a permanent
amusement park in 2002. This is real evidence of the importance of
Dreamland to Margate as a resort. I am hopeful that with Dreamland
reopened as the first amusement park of thrilling historic rides
that Margate seafront will be transformed."
The event was covered by
BBC
News, the
Thanet Extra and the
Isle of Thanet Gazette.
There is also a
Photo Gallery of
Carters at Dreamland, hosted by
Joyland Books.
Latest Dreamland Trust newsletter
available for download
Issue 3 of the
Dreamland Trust Newsletter
is now available to download. This provides an update on work on the
Dreamland Margate project. This was sent by email to all those who have signed
up for the Campaign. If you would like to get a copy of the newsletter
before it appears on this website, please join our
mailing list.
|
News Archives
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009 - new staff join Trust
November 2009 - Sea Change funding secured
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009 - Heritage Lottery funding secured
June 2009 - Junior Whip acquired and Urban Panel report
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009 - heritage amusement park plans launched
January/February 2009
November/December 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008 - Scenic Railway
Fire
January/February 2008
December 2007
November 2007
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