The main changes are to rearrange the rides to create an improved layout, the introduction of a more formal garden area to reflect the gardens that used to be located to the west of the Scenic Railway and the addition of the Dreamland Miniature Railway. Click on the Masterplan to view a larger version on our Dreamland Heritage Amusement Park pages.

Finally, Dreamland has been extensively covered in the media over the past few days. Newsparcs and Central-Parks, two French web portals about amusement parks, have posted information about the rebirth of Dreamland. It has also been featured in the local press. The Thanet Extra of 20 March covered the launch party and other Dreamland news.
 

We have also made available for download the Powerpoint slideshow presentation that was running along one side of the venue throughout the event.

The 17 March edition of the Thanet Times reported on the party held in Margate to mark the unveiling of the Dreamland plans, along with some correspondence from readers.

The Thanet Adscene of 19 March also reported on the party.

The unveiling was also covered in the Leisure Opportunities magazine, InterPark Magazine, the Darkride and Funhouse Enthusiasts and the much-loved Eastcliff Richard blog.

The Thanet Extra of 13 March reported the listing of the menagerie cages.

The 21 March edition of Your Thanet reports on the news that the BBC series The Apprentice could be visiting Margate with contestants being given the challenge of rebranding the town. The plans for Dreamland get a mention. This news was also covered by thisiskent.co.uk on 18 March, including a quote from one of the key partners on the Dreamland project, Derek Harding of the Margate Renewal Partnership.

Nick Laister, Sarah Vickery and Susan Marsh spent all day yesterday at the new offices of the Princes Regeneration Trust for a Dreamland Client Group meeting. At this meeting, architects Levitt Bernstein presented their final drawings and report and Locum Consulting also presented their final version of the business plan. Other matters discussed included the content of the grant funding applications, arrangements for taking the project forward to implementation stage and a discussion on how The Dreamland Trust can ensure that it is fully prepared for the big challenge ahead. There will be more news on the latter point in the next couple of weeks.

Finally, journalist Nick Spurrier has written an article on Dreamland and the Campaign in the journal of the The Institute of Engineering and Technology. The article is called 'Creating a Scene'. Read...

Nick Laister, leader of the Save Dreamland campaign and chairman of the Dreamland Trust said: "We were overwhelmed by the number of people who attended, which exceeded our expectations. It was great to meet so many people, some who had travelled down from the north of England and the Midlands just for this event. We were really grateful for all the feedback on the exciting plans, and I am pleased to say that everything I heard that evening was extremely positive. This gives us the confidence that we can press ahead with finalising the plans ready for the grant submissions next month."

Nick adds: "It was a fantastic party atmosphere all evening. There was a real mix of people, young and old, and phenomenal goodwill. Everyone seemed to recognise that this project has a USP that should capture the public's imagination."

“I was slightly overwhelmed by the crowds,” admits Sarah Vickery. “We’ve been doing this for long enough to know that the people of Margate want Dreamland back, but to see so many people turn out was immensely satisfying.”

“Back when this event was first mooted, I wanted it to be like a little slice of Dreamland with sights, sounds and smells that might transport you there, if only for a moment. And we wanted people to enjoy themselves, so that we can start to put the sad and desolate Dreamland era behind us and start creating new happy memories. The atmosphere on the night was amazing, lots of people commented on it, and I’ve been told today that it was like being back at the park, so I’m really pleased.”

Nick Laister concludes: "I would like to thank Sarah for all her hard work in turning this from what could have easily been a standard public consultation event into a truly inspirational evening. And thanks also to Mick Tomlinson for providing the music for the evening and for putting his Dreamland models on display."

Those who couldn't make it to the event should keep checking back to the News page this week, as we will be uploading the plans and drawings to the Heritage Amusement Park pages. In the meantime, here are some photographs of the event, courtesy of Justin Garvanovic of the European Coaster Club.

There was much press coverage on the day of the event, including an interview with Sarah Vickery on the BBC News website and with Nick Laister in Your Thanet. The Best Western Hotels website also carried the news today and there is a full-page article written by Nick Laister in the latest edition of First Drop magazine, published by the European Coaster Club. Planning Resource also covered the event.

Right: Nick Laister, Susan Marsh and Jean-Marc Toussaint at the Dreamland Stakeholders event this afternoon. Click on the image for a larger version.

The event is at 7.30pm, West Coast Bar, King Street, Margate.

The Campaign's proposals for a heritage amusement park made the front page in Friday's Isle of Thanet Gazette. This article covers the high profile support that the Dreamland project is now receiving, including HRH Prince Charles and Margate-born artist Tracey Emin.

The news is also covered on the main BBC News website, based around an interview with Dreamland Trust chairman Nick Laister.

The Board presentation was followed by a meeting of the Dreamland Client Group, at which further work was carried out on the amusement park proposals and further planning of the big public launch event of the Dreamland Heritage Amusement Park in Margate on Sunday 15 March at 7.30pm. The Trust hopes to see a big turnout for what is expected to be a lively evening.

Dreamland cages in the news

News of the listing of Sanger's animal cages at Dreamland has made it into a number of news and blog sites, including This is Kent, Nemesis Republic Blog and Thanetonline.