News Archive: July 2010

Click here for the latest news

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.
 

John Lawson's Circus
The award winning John Lawson’s Circus will be appearing on the Dreamland site from 2 to 6 March 2011. The show, voted Britain’s best circus three times in the last five years, will be presenting an all new show for 2011 including acts and artists never before seen in Margate!

Dreamland Trust chairman Nick Laister says: "I have known John Lawson for several years and am delighted that he is bringing his circus to Dreamland. It is a fantastic show, and truly deserves the many awards it has won. I hope people will support this event."

Performance times at Dreamland in the heated big top are on weekdays at 4:30pm and 7:30pm, Saturday 5th March at 2pm and 5pm and Sunday 6th March at 2pm only. All seats are £8 with a special offer of all seats being £6 at both shows on Wed 2nd. Ticket office on site daily from Mon 28th Feb or Tel: 07860 49 88 33. Disabled access and parking available.

Remembering the Golden Mile
The author of It Must Be True...It Was In The News!, Reflections: v. 1 and Reflections: v. 2 has written a poem about his childhood visits to Dreamland and his hopes for the future of the park called Remembering the Golden Mile. Click here to read the poem.

For other poems and stories, visit our Features page.

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.

Click here for the latest news

Return to Save Dreamland

Return to Joyland Books: for the biggest selection of amusement park books on the Web!