Save Dreamland Campaign

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Our Aims

The aims of the Save Dreamland Campaign are:

  • to fight for the retention of a major amusement park on the Dreamland site for the benefit of Margate's tourism economy;
  • to object to any development proposed on the site which would result in the site no longer acting as a major tourist attraction;
  • to work with the Council and theme park operators to ensure the best possible future for the Dreamland site; and
  • to ensure the survival of the Grade II listed Scenic Railway, the UK's oldest operating roller coaster and the only listed amusement park ride in the country.

Background to the Campaign

Find out what the Campaign has been up to since it was formed in January 2003 by browsing through our News page, which takes you right back to the beginning. Alternatively, for a brief potted history, download our Background to the Campaign document (PDF Format).

The Team

The Save Dreamland Campaign is led by Nick Laister, the person who secured heritage status for the Scenic Railway in 2002 when it became a Grade II listed building. Nick is a chartered town planner and is currently Planning Director at RPS, the UK's largest planning consultancy. He is also a leading authority on the UK theme park industry, acting on behalf of several UK and international theme park operators and developers. He is editor of the Joyland Books website, and co-owner of Skelter Publishing.

Nick is supported at the local level by Sarah Vickery, who is on the Board of Margate arts group Limbo, is a member of Margate Town Partnership’s Marketing Group, writes for the local magazine Isle and owns and runs the Grade 1 listed Shell Grotto in Margate. She moved to Margate with her family in 2001 to take over the Grotto which she has known and loved since childhood. Before this Sarah was a journalist specialising in arts and travel, writing for a range of magazines and newspapers and editing books.

Nick and Sarah are supported by formidable planning campaigner, Susan Marsh MBE and Scenic Railway brakeman, Dave Collard.

Click here for more information about the Campaign team.

Our Vision

The Campaign's vision for the site is for its complete upgrade and modernisation in the hands of a committed operator. Several operators have expressed a serious interest in acquiring the site and investing in new rides, attractions and infrastructure. Dreamland will be a modern, safe family theme park, centred around the Scenic Railway, and will become one of the South of England's leading tourism destinations.

This can only be achieved if Thanet District Council ensures the site's continuation as an amusement park by including policies in its Local Plan and by making appropriate development control decisions. This approach has been successfully followed by councils at Great Yarmouth and Blackpool, amongst others, and will ensure that the significant private sector investment in the amusement park that has been promised can come forward.

The Dreamland Trust

The Save Dreamland Campaign is now administered by The Dreamland Trust. More on the Trust...

What happens next? 

So much has happened over the past few years that it is impossible to summarise it here without it becoming out of date almost immediately. Please visit the News page to catch up on events. But most importantly, we need you to join the Campaign and support us.

The Campaign is already supported by more than 13,000 people who want to see Dreamland and the Scenic Railway survive. These range from local residents and businesses of Margate to local, national and international organisations such as the Margate Civic Society, Isle of Thanet Hotel and Guest House Association, European Coaster Club, Roller Coaster Club of Great Britain and SAVE Britain's Heritage. Find out what some of our members are saying by clicking here.


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