The Dreamland Trust announces recruitment drive to deliver world's first tourist attraction

Following an award of £384,500 of funding by the Heritage Lottery Fund, The Dreamland Trust - a not-for-profit company - is now recruiting three key people to take forward detailed proposals for a world's first tourist attraction in Margate.

Phase One of the project, worth £12.4m, will create the world's first amusement park to solely feature thrilling historic rides and will be centred on the Grade II-listed Scenic Railway roller coaster. The second phase will involve the restoration of the Grade II*-listed Dreamland Cinema building as a multi-purpose entertainment venue, creating a national centre for seaside heritage, popular culture and street style.

Dreamland Trust Chair, Nick Laister, says: "We are now recruiting a core team to make this exciting concept a reality. Heading up the team will be the Project Director, who will become the public face of Dreamland, driving the project forward.

“The Project Director will be supported by an Audience Development Officer, who will be the public liaison point for the project, and will organise exhibitions and other events.

“The third post is a Project Archivist, who will research, collate and disseminate historical information relating to the Dreamland site, seaside culture and amusement parks in general.”

Interested candidates can download details from the new website: www.dreamlandmargate.com

ENDS

Information for Editors

The Dreamland Trust administers the Save Dreamland Campaign. For further information on The Dreamland Trust please contact:

Nick Laister – Chairman on 07778 207036. Email nick@savedreamland.co.uk

Susan Marsh – Honorary Secretary on 07803 727048. Email susan@savedreamland.co.uk

The Save Dreamland Campaign was launched in 2003 to save the Dreamland Pleasure Park, Margate, home of the UK’s oldest roller coaster, the 89-year-old listed Scenic Railway.

The Campaign is led by planning expert Nick Laister, a planning consultant and a leading authority on the British amusement park industry. The Campaign is now supported by over 18,000 people, including local residents, businesses and organisations such as the Margate Civic Society, Margate Hotel and Guest House Association and Limbo Arts Ltd, as well as national and international groups including SAVE Britain’s Heritage, the European Coaster Club and the Roller Coaster Club of Great Britain.

The official campaign website is www.savedreamland.co.uk. The campaign can be emailed at campaign@savedreamland.co.uk. The address for all correspondence is The Dreamland Trust, The Shell Grotto, Grotto Hill, Margate, Kent CT9 2BU.

The Trust has negotiated the ‘rescue’ of a number of threatened vintage rides, most of which are now in storage in various locations. The rides include the Caterpillar, Water Chute, Whip, Wild Mouse and River Caves, and they have been acquired from Southport Pleasureland, Blackpool Pleasure Beach and Rhyl’s Ocean Beach. In some cases, these represent the last surviving examples of their type.

Dreamland is located at Belgrave Road, Margate. The park is owned by Margate Town Centre Regeneration Company.