In  January 2003 the owner of Dreamland, Jimmy Godden, announced the closure of Dreamland. The park is to be redeveloped as "leisure boxes, some retail and a supermarket". Joyland Books will provide updates on the campaign to save Dreamland and its internationally-important Scenic Railway ride.

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Monday, 5 September 2005

An Interim Inspector's Report into the Thanet Local Plan Inquiry has been published, containing some very positive news for the Save Dreamland Campaign. The Campaign gave evidence at the public inquiry in June 2004, objecting to the Council's last-minute change to Policy T11, which had previously protected the Dreamland site. (Click here to read the Campaign's representations). Whilst the 'Tourism' Chapter will not be published until October, the 'Town Centres & Retailing' Chapter contains the Inspector's response to Stadium Developments' proposals for retail development on the Dreamland site. In short, the Inspector is absolutely clear that retail development will not be appropriate on the Dreamland site. Also of interest is the Inspector's remark in paragraph 94: “I explain in the Tourism Chapter of the Report why Dreamland amusement park should remain as a core leisure facility and I recommend Policy T11 should be modified accordingly."

Above: Nick Laister, Susan Marsh and Dave Collard represented the Save Dreamland Campaign at the Local Plan Inquiry in June 2004

Campaign Leader, Nick Laister, commented today on the Interim Report: “This Interim Report is fantastic news for the Save Dreamland Campaign. We are delighted that the Inspector has firmly shut the door to retail development on the Dreamland site. This was a not unexpected recommendation, as any such proposal would undoubtedly harm the town centre as well as removing a massively important tourist attraction. The Inspector has rightly stated that retail development at Dreamland would undermine the town's tourism industry. I am also very pleased with his comment that the Dreamland amusement park should remain as a core leisure facility and therefore await the Tourism Chapter with interest to read his recommended changes to Policy T11.” Click here to read more about what the Interim Inspector's Report says about Dreamland.

Sunday, 4 September 2005

Today was to have been Dreamland's final day of operation for the 2005 season. However, the park did not open, leaving many visitors to the town disappointed (something that has happened many times throughout the season). Campaign Leader Nick Laister comments on the 2005 season:

"In my view, the 2005 season was very disappointing. It got off to a bad start, with the operator telling me before the park had even opened that he had no interest in making a go of it and that he would be happy to leave there and then. It went downhill from there. There was little advertising of the park, and several offers from TV and other media to feature the site on high profile news reports or websites were refused by the operator (I am aware that offers from Sky News, Meridian Television and Thanet District Council were turned down). Our own offers to help promote the park were also refused. The little advertising that did take place included the park's opening dates, which were frequently ignored, leaving many visitors disappointed (I wonder how many will return again?). An entrance charge was introduced, which was a disastrous move, and totally inappropriate for a seaside fun park like Dreamland. The park also had an unpleasant atmosphere, which was partly due to the poor physical appearance of the site, but also due to the staff. This was totally inappropriate for a family attraction. I cannot imagine that the 2005 season was a successful one for the operator, but what concerns me more is the damage that this season may have done to the town. I wonder how many visitors will not come back next year, having being disappointed or let down by Dreamland? I can only hope that a decision can be made on the site's future very soon".