‘Dreamland is the isle’s best hope’

English Heritage singled out Dreamland’s reopening as a matter of urgency – “without unnecessary burdens” such as new homes.

Plans to build flats and houses on the seafront site have been hampered by the collapse of Waterbridge, a third of the Margate Town Centre Regeneration Company, which owns the site.

English Heritage’s panel said: “We see no merit in delaying the scheme because the grander package can no longer be built. New housing may be a long time coming. The remainder of the site can be brought forward, with minimal investment, as an events space.”

The reports said Thanet council’s proposed new road layout was unnecessary. The panel pinned its hopes on Dreamland, adding: “We strongly urge that all necessary funds be directed to that purpose even where other, generally laudable, objectives would have to be abandoned or, at least, deferred as a result.”

• Are open spaces for events a better alternative to more flats and houses? Email newsdesk.thanet@krnmedia.co.uk

Show support for Dreamland funds

The people of Thanet can make a contribution to getting Dreamland back up and running by writing to the government to show support for multi-million pound funding bids.

Dreamland stakeholders have submitted two bids for cash to rejuvenate the fun park.

The Dreamland Client Group, made up of The Dreamland Trust, Margate Renewal Partnership, Thanet council and the Margate Town Centre Regeneration Company, has submitted an application for £4 million to Sea Change, a government cultural grant scheme. A decision is expected in July.

The Dreamland Trust has also submitted a bid to the National Lottery for £2.6 million. A decision on Lottery funding is expected in September.

If you would like to let the Government know how much Dreamland means to you, write to the Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP, Secretary of State of Culture, Media & Sport, 2-4 Cockspur Street, London SW1Y 5DH.

If you do write, let us know. Email newsdesk@krnmedia.co.uk or call 01843 578150.

Fun park groups’ £4m funding bid

Groups working at Margate’s former Dreamland fun park have submitted a second bid for cash to rejuvenate the fun park. The Dreamland Client Group, made up of the Dreamland Trust, Margate Renewal Partnership, Thanet council and Margate Town Centre Regeneration Company submitted an application for grant funding of £4 million to Sea Change, a government cultural grant scheme. The money will be used to transform Dreamland into a heritage amusement park which includes classic funfair rides and a renovated scenic railway. The cinema would also be given a makeover and used as a live music venue. The decision on the grant is expected in July while the decision on whether Lottery funding is successful will be announced in September.
 

Time running out to rebuild historic amusement arcade

Time is running out to rebuild an iconic seafront amusement arcade in Margate, more than six years after it was razed to the ground in a massive fire.

Mr G’s was destroyed in 2003 when flames ravaged the historic building on Marine Terrace. More than 120 firefighters helped tackle the blaze, described at the time as one of the biggest in Thanet’s history.

Planning permission to replace the arcade with a three-storey building was granted one year later, when developers were given the green light to build a basement car park, a ground floor amusement arcade and first and second floor offices.

But local people are still waiting for the first brick to be laid and building work must start before June 14 – exactly five years after officials at Thanet council granted planning permission for the project.

Dave Kinnear, co-ordinator for Margate Town Partnership, is keen to see building work start before the June deadline. He said: “We want to see the whole of Margate seafront regenerated as soon as possible. Dreamland and the surrounding areas are essential to the future of the town and the sooner that work to replace Mr G’s gets under way the better.”

Prominent local figures met to discuss options for the future of the Victorian seafront within days of the 2003 fire.

Power of pedals

I read on a local website of some boys who took their bikes to the top of Margate’s scenic railway (during the war when Dreamland was closed) and freewheeled down.

That set me thinking. Why not build a coaster on which the riders pedal up the slopes instead? Instead of a chain set to the non-existent rear wheel of the bike, each row of riders (say, four abreast) would have their cranks connected by gearing to a cross-shaft and all the cross-shafts on each car would be connected by gearing to a cog under the car that would engage on a rack (mountain railway-style) .

At the top of the slope, the rack would cease as the cars enter the freewheel switchback part of the ride. Another, slower, version of the same ride would have a continuous rack so the downhill sections would operate on a fixed-wheel basis (or perhaps both types of switchback could be combined on different sections of the same ride).

As everyone would be standing on the pedals when going up the slopes, a level section would be necessary at the top to ensure everyone is sitting down again before the ride enters the switchback section with its sudden changes of gradient. This would avoid major discomfort if one went over a bump while still standing.

The initial start from the loading platform to the first slope would be under pedal power. The ride would freewheel to the unloading platform but there would be a section of rack that would be lowered or folded down when the ride is coming to a stop, but which would then be raised so as to re-engage it to enable an attendant to pedal the cars to the loading platform.

Assuming that all or part of the ride is operated on the “fixed-wheel” basis, perhaps the approach to the unloading platform could have a similar foldaway rack so that the ride could be hired out to (for example) local football clubs for fitness training at times when the ride would otherwise be closed. Maybe the designers of roller coasters should get to work on this idea! Perhaps the prototype could be installed in the revamped Dreamland when it reopens.

John Humphrey, Cobden Road, Sevenoaks.

Locals Love Dreamland!

The Visit Kent survey is just the latest in a long line of public consultation exercises where the people of Margate and Thanet have shown that they love Dreamland and that they have a passion for the project. Here are just some of the consultation highlights:

2004 - Margate Masterplan: Dreamland generated the most responses to the consultation (44% of all responses) “with almost all of them strongly supporting the use of the site for a major amusement park, family-based attraction”

2006 - Proposed Modifications to the Thanet Local Plan: A total of 452 representations submitted and, of those, all but 10 related to the Dreamland site. Almost all wanted the site to remain an amusement park with the Scenic Railway retained.

2007 - Planning Brief: The Council received 229 completed questionnaires. Over 92% wanted the Scenic Railway retained, over 87% wanting at least 50% of the site in amusement park use and over 85% stating a desire for refurbishment of the Dreamland cinema building for leisure uses.

2009 - I Dream of Dreamland: Over 400 attend. 94% of comments made being in favour of the project.
 

Kiss me quick, and make it fun again!
Plan to make Dreamland world’s first heritage amusement park
Launch party message: It’s all about having a good time

Bring back the heartbeat of our town and make it fun again. That was the simple stirring message at the launch of plans to make Dreamland the world’s first heritage amusement park.

The site in Margate has been at the centre of false dawns and failed schemes for decades but the latest multi-million pound project has fired people’s imaginations. The scheme was launched at the town’s West Coast Bar on Sunday night and more than 400 people rolled back the years with candy floss and popcorn, music, costumed usherettes and archive film of Dreamland in its heyday and offering a glimpse of what could be.

Sarah Vickery, treasurer of the Dreamland Trust that administers the Save Dreamland campaign, said: “We want Dreamland to be associated with having fun again. It is not about concrete block paving, desolation, sadness and fires. The heritage park plan is about making Dreamland and Margate all about having a good time.

“There is so much goodwill from so many people and I think the Scenic Railway fire last April was a massive wake-up call for people who finally realised that Dreamland, its history and heritage, could really disappear very soon.”

Cllr Mick Tomlinson, former town mayor and regarded as “Mr Margate” due to his 50-year involvement with Dreamland and the carnival, said: “This is a step in the right direction as part of rejuvenation plans to bring the dear old town back to life. It still has so much to offer visitors.”

He was DJ for the night, with one request for Chas and Dave’s Down to Margate coming via email from Perth in Australia.

Seaside Culture

Donkey ride owner Nick Gunn, who returns to the main sands in April, said: “Margate has always been about kiss-me-quick hats, the funfair and the beach; simple seaside fun, and it should stay with its roots.”

Derek Harding, from Margate Renewal Partnership, said: “This is an exciting scheme. With Dreamland one end of the prom and Turner Contemporary by the harbour, there will be a great mix of traditional seaside culture and innovative contemporary art.”

The Trust has worked with Thanet council and Dreamland’s owners, the Margate Town Centre Regeneration Company, on what is being called “a thrilling theme park from the past”.

Nick Laister, chairman of the Dreamland Trust, said: “We were successful in winning a Sea Change grant last year and, with additional funding from Dreamland’s owners and the Margate Renewal Partnership, we have been able to appoint specialist advisers who are starting to bring our dreams to reality.

Scenic Railway

“If we can secure our next round of grant funding, work on the park could start later this year, with the park opening in 2012.”

The £12 million park would be built around the Grade II listed Scenic Railway, the oldest rollercoaster in the UK. It would feature some of the last surviving examples of well-known amusement park rides and have been rescued by the Save Dreamland Campaign.

Mr Laister said: “This will not be a collection of gentle old travelling fairground rides. Dreamland will create a large, thrilling permanent seaside amusement park, of the sort that could be found around the coast of Britain throughout most of the last century, but has now largely disappeared.

“It will be an authentic traditional seaside amusement park experienced in its correct location. We think it will be a great success and will play a transformational role in the regeneration of Margate.

“The Dreamland of tomorrow will echo the thrilling theme parks of the past, and this is your chance to climb on board, fasten your seatbelts and enjoy the ride!”

Dreamland could revive glory days
By Spencer Cork, programme controller, KMFM Thanet.

The other day I saw a news clip of Margate back in the 1960s and 1970s, when the beach at Margate main sands was packed to capacity and you couldn’t actually see the sand for all the people on the beach. One other thing I noticed is that during the same news clip you could see one solitary car driving down towards the clock tower. One single car beside a completely-packed beach.

Fast forward 30 years and things have changed so much. For a start, where would all of those people park now? It was very much obvious that the main form of transport then would have been the train into Margate station. Of course, back then the visitors had the Dreamland amusement park as the main drawer in addition to the sandy beach. So could we perhaps see a return to the town’s former glory? Well, plans have now gone on show to perhaps once again bring the Dreamland park and cinema to life with a potential £12 million pound grant to create a heritage amusement park on the current site.

But just how much fun does £12 million buy you these days? Reports suggest that if all goes ahead it could open in 2012 – but please, if it does go ahead, make it 2013 or it will be overshadowed by the Olympic Games and Margate could simply be overlooked once more.
 

Bringing history to life with Dreamland’s rebirth

A party to celebrate the launch of new plans for Dreamland drew hundreds to Margate this week. Displays of new drawings and layouts for the heritage amusement park were unveiled to the public at the West Coast Bar.

The party-goers were treated to fish and chips, popcorn and candy floss before hitting the dance floor to boogie to specially chosen tracks.

The colourful drawings of Dreamland’s proposed future were created by French artist and theme park designer Jean-Marc Toussaint who is working with the Dreamland Trust to help design the layout of the park. He said: “When I was told about the idea of a theme park with a museum, I thought it was a great idea.

“It will still be the place people are expecting and there will still be wonderfully exciting rides but while queuing up they will have the opportunity to learn a little about the ride and something about its history.”

Funding bids for the project are due to be submitted in the next few months and a final decision on whether the plans can go ahead will be given in September. If permission is secured work on the construction and renovation of the park and cinema could begin this year.

Plans the future

• Scenic Railway Station – Early Dreamland buildings were modernist in style and Dreamland’s new buildings echo the streamlined designs. The station has a large fin, reminiscent of the cinema tower. The helter skelter is designed to feel like a lighthouse.
• The Main Plaza – The Scenic Railway is the park’s centerpiece, alongside carousels and children’s rides. Water will run along the railway, with a deck allowing visitors close to the ride. The Cableway gives a bird’s eye view of Marine Terrace and sands.
• The River Caves – Drawing inspiration from the listed 19th century Menagerie Cages at Dreamland, the ride is a search for fantastic mythical dream creatures which will populate the cages of a Menagerie of the Weird.
• Wild Mouse and Wheel – Another streamlined building and a food and drink kiosk. This style works with modern materials, such as the metal of the Wheel, but also sits happily with the wooden structure of the Mouse. Each ride will be introduced by fact boards in the queue lines, including historical information and old photos.
• River Caves and Water Chute – The entrance to the River Caves is a homage to the great scenic rides of the 1920s. Rides form the south-west corner of the park.
   

Park’s future
Mythical beasts among themes for Dreamland

A Menagerie of the Weird was one of the wacky plans unveiled at a wild party celebrating Dreamland.

Busty blonde usherettes dished out lollipops while party goers scoffed popcorn, candy floss and fish and chips at the West Coast Bar in Margate’s King Street. Top pop tunes past and present boomed out at the Old Town bar after the crowds were asked to choose music which reminded them of Dreamland.

On the walls were colourful drawings by theme park designer Jean-Marc Toussaint who is working with the Dreamland Trust to help design the layout of the park. Flying in especially from his home in Paris the designer said: “The first time I came to Dreamland was in 2001 and I just went ‘wow, what a great place’. I’d been researching all these great theme parks around the world and when I was told about the idea of a theme park with a museum, I thought it was a great idea. It will still be the place people are expecting, there will still be wonderfully exciting rides but while queuing up they have the option to learn a little about the ride and something about its history. We can really have fun with that. People won’t go just to learn about history but if they can grab a bit of information and learn about them that’s great.”

The Dreamland Trust is bidding for funding from Sea Change, a cultural grant scheme and will be told in June if they have secured funding for work to begin. The group have also submitted bids to the Heritage Lottery Fund and will get the results in September.

Plans for the heritage amusement park include over 30 rides, some of which keep the spirit of white knuckle rides alive. The Trust is also hopeful they can buy a large Ferris wheel as well as having cable cars linking the sands with the park.

The Dreamland Project at the Prince’s Regeneration Trust is led by Roland Jeffery who said he was extremely happy that so many people had turned out on a chilly Sunday evening.

The temperature inside West Coast rose as DJ Mick T gave the crowds their favourite tunes as well as displaying his working models of Dreamland past.

On the walls historic footage from Dreamland played alongside plans for the newly envisaged theme park.

Dreamland Trust treasurer and Shell Grotto owner Sarah Vickery said: “It’s great that so many people have turned up and there’s a real mix of people taking an interest.”

• Did you go? What did you think of the plans? Email newsdesk.thanet@krnmedia.co.uk

What was on display?

• The main plaza – The scenic railway is the centrepiece of the park, alongside gallopers and children’s rides. Water will run along the scenic, with a deck allowing visitors to get up close to the ride. The cableway gives a bird’s eye view of Marine Terrace and Margate’s sands.
• The River Caves – They draw inspiration from the listed 19th-century Menagerie Cages on Dreamland. This ride will be a whimsical journey around the world searching for fantastic mythical dream creatures which will populate the cages of a Menagerie of the Weird.
• Scenic Railway Station – Early Dreamland buildings were modernist in style and Dreamland’s new buildings echo those streamlined designs. The scenic railway station features a large fin, reminiscent of the cinema tower.
• Wild Mouse and Wheel – Another streamlined building with a food and drink kiosk. This style works with modern materials, such as the metal of the wheel, but also sits happily with the wooden structure of the mouse.
• River Caves and Water Chute – The entrance to the River Caves is a homage to the scenic rides of the 1920s, one of which, Coney Island’s Dreamland in the USA, was called Dragon’s Gorge.

Park’s royal fan

Prince Charles has given his full support for plans to revive Dreamland with a heritage amusement park. His Royal Highness holds monthly meetings with the chief executive of the Prince’s Regeneration Trust Ros Kerslake, and during a recent meeting the next in line for the throne showed a keen interest in the development of Margate’s iconic landmark site.

Mr Kerslake said: “The Prince of Wales is very pleased that his trust is working in the town of Margate and that it is supporting the reuse of local heritage assets.”

And from the letters page,

Nightmare

Dreamland Heritage plans, another big example of how Thanet wastes money, buying up rubbish from theme parks that have gone bust. Where do they think they are going to get the visitors from, apart from sentimentalists from the past, who won’t use it every day or every weekend. The young know what they can get elsewhere. The money could be used much better on something else. More planning incompetence, Thanet wins the award every time.
Adrian Ottley, Prospect Road, Birchington.
 

Party time unveils Dreamland plans

Busty blonde usherettes, candy floss machines and fish and chips were enjoyed by hundreds of people who turned out to see the plans for Dreamland unveiled.

A party held on Sunday night at the West Coast Bar in Margate saw party-goers enjoying traditional fun-park food alongside their favourite tipple from the bar.

On display were colourful drawings by theme park designer Jean-Marc Toussaint who is working with the Dreamland Trust. The Trust hopes to secure public money to create a heritage fun park with old fashioned rides.

Flying in especially from his home in Paris the designer said: “The first time I came to Dreamland I thought ‘wow, what a great place’. I’d been researching great theme parks around the world and when I was told about the idea of a theme park with a museum I thought this is a great idea.”

Sea Change, a cultural grant scheme, will let the Dreamland Trust know in June whether they have secured more cash. A Heritage Lottery Fund bid will be submitted at the beginning of April and a decision will be given in September.

Dreamland Trust treasurer and Shell Grotto owner Sarah Vickery said: “It’s great that so many people have turned up. The plans look fantastic and I’m glad so many people are taking an interest.”
 

Dreamland’s rare animal cages listed

A set of historic menagerie enclosures and cages on the former Dreamland site has been given a Grade II listing by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. It has been made on the grounds that “pleasure ground related structures are very rare, and early animal cages are exceptionally so”.

The recommendation also goes on to say that “Margate is a very significant seaside resort, and Dreamland was its principal attraction (after the seaside). This survival from the complex’s early years is an important reminder of the resort’s history and of the evolution of mass leisure.”

The site was used as the pleasure grounds of the Hall by the Sea and was taken over in 1874 by “Lord” George Sanger, a noted travelling circus manager. It went on to become one of the principal attractions in Margate, featuring a menagerie and a lion-tamer. Sanger retired in 1905 and the menagerie was re-opened in 1913, when lions and bears were recorded as having occupied the cages. A zoo continued to operate on the site from the 1920s to the 1950s.

“Lord” George, and other members of the Sanger family, are buried in Margate Cemetery.

Located near the main railway line, the remains include three lion cages with steel bars set into stone and with low entrances for the animals. Thanet council applied for the listing and Cllr John Kirby, cabinet member for regulatory services, said: “This listing is excellent news and ensures that these enclosures and cages will now be preserved for future generations. We all know that Dreamland is an important and much loved part of Margate and it is encouraging to see that being recognised.”
 

Sea Heir
Prince backs heritage park plans

Prince Charles has given his full support for plans to revive Margate’s Dreamland theme park.

His Royal Highness holds monthly meetings with the Prince’s Regeneration Trust’s chief executive Ros Kerslake, and during a recent meeting the next in line for the throne showed a keen interest in the development of Margate’s iconic landmark site.

The trust is providing advice on the renovation of the park, which includes plans for a £12 million heritage fun park and cinema, to the groups working on the project.

Mr Kerslake said: “The Prince of Wales is very pleased that his trust is working in Margate and that it is supporting the re-use of local heritage assets.”

A multi-million pounds bid for funding for the ambitious scheme, also backed by artist Tracey Emin, will be submitted in April, with the decision due by September.

A vision of dreams
Dreamland rebirth plans go on show

This is the first image released of how a newly regenerated Dreamland could look if multi-million pound plans for a heritage theme park go ahead. The image, along with plans for the world’s first Heritage Amusement Park, will be unveiled on Sunday at a party being held at the Sugar Lounge in Margate.

Jean-Marc Toussaint is working with the Dreamland Trust to help design the layout of the park. A writer, illustrator, creative consultant and concept designer, Mr Toussaint has worked on projects in Europe, Russia and the USA including French parks Park Asterix and Grand Parc Medieval.

In the plans the theme park is to be revived and the Grade II listed seafront cinema will also receive a makeover. It is likely to become a music venue and museum showing Margate’s youth the ages, from mods and rockers to punk.

Sea Change, a cultural grant scheme, has already given money to the Margate Renewal Partnership to carry out preparatory work for the heritage amusement park and in June will tell the group if it has secured more funding for work to begin.

An application to the Heritage Lottery Fund will be submitted next month and a decision will be given in September.

A raft of meetings, including a trip to the Prince of Wales’s home Clarence House, have taken place to discuss the project. The Dreamland Project at the Prince’s Regeneration Trust is led by Roland Jeffery, who will also be attending the party on Sunday.

Dreamland Trust treasurer and Shell Grotto owner Sarah Vickery said: “We are delighted with the high profile support that Dreamland is receiving.”

Peter Beck, construction manager at Waterbridge, the company which owns the Dreamland site, said: “We’re very excited about the project and we’re all very positive. We wouldn’t have come this far with it if we didn’t believe it could work. It seems to be gaining support and that’s important because we still need to secure the funding for Dreamland. The funding is essential. With regards the Scenic Railway we’re about 30 per cent complete with the structural analysis and we’re about to move on to commission a three dimensional survey which will see a 3-D map created of the structure which will fill in the gaps. We don’t have the original plans of the part that burned down so that’s the next stage.”

The news has also pleased Margate artist Tracey Emin, who said: “I’m happy Margate will be given part of its soul back. I travel all over the world and whenever I’m asked where I come from and I say Margate the next word is always Dreamland.”

Plans for the heritage amusement park include more than 30 rides, some of which keep the white knuckle spirit alive. The Trust also hopes they can purchase a large Ferris wheel as well as securing cable cars linking the sands with the park.

Designs will be officially unveiled this Sunday at the Sugar Lounge in King Street, Margate, at 7.30pm. The free party will include music from Thanet councillor and DJ Mick T chosen by those attending.

To choose your favourite song that brings back memories of Dreamland email sarah@savedreamland.co.uk  There will be old films of Dreamland, music, hot dogs, candy floss and usherettes encouraging visitors to share their memories and their hopes for the future of Dreamland. There is also chance to meet the Dreamland team.

Editor’s comment

To hear the Prince of Wales is pleased with the news that Dreamland is on the up, is high praise indeed.

The former fun park has suffered mixed fortunes. The news that work to create a heritage theme park could begin by the end of this year is encouraging. The work by professionals and volunteers behind the scenes cannot be underestimated. Hours have been spent, slogging tirelessly away at meetings and touring the country looking for rides.

While the idea of a heritage theme park might not be to everyone’s taste, it is surely better than being used by developers for more homes.

In Dreamland’s glory days hundreds of thrill-seekers, some from as far away as the US, would come to Margate to ride the Scenic Railway. The heritage part of the park has received criticism for fear that the white-knuckle excitement wont be there – but it doesn’t get much more exciting than a rickety old wooden roller coaster.

Come September the fate of the park will be sealed. If successful, Margate could become the classic seaside town it once was.
 

"Last week I announced my vision for Thanet. Perhaps I should not have been surprised when I read the piece in the Thanet Times highlighting Dreamland.

The headline quote from me, "Let go of the past", was only part of what I said to Thom Morris when asked about the future of the Dreamland site.

Whether it was his editorial bosses or Thom himself who chose to give only half the statement I don’t know. What I can assure all is that the council position is clear. We want to see a heritage park that mirrors no other, is unique and offers the kind of sustainable attraction that Dreamland did in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. I also went on to talk about a sealife centre that we were negotiating with an operator before the recession. Talks are still ongoing. Perhaps the Government could put its resources into this much needed scheme rather than throwing it into the banks."