It was with some surprise that we discovered the Isle of Thanet Gazette had chosen to publish correspondence between Nick Laister and Toby Hunter (April 14th).

Perhaps we can address the facts;-

1. Waterbridge has yet to publish plans for the Dreamland site so there has been no opportunity for the Campaign to either support or reject. Members of the Campaign have met with Waterbridge on every occasion they have been invited; and continue to be available for consultation with the Company.
    

2. The Campaign has, however, engaged in considerable work in the Local Plan process to ensure that the Dreamland site remains an amusement park. This view was fully endorsed by the independent Inspector. The Inspector further criticised the way the Local Plan Policy had been changed, from one that preserved Dreamland to one allowing development, following an undocumented meeting with the then site owners, after the consultation period had finished. This, together with further matters emanating from Thanet Council, has been the focus of our work. It has covered the period of the current Council and its predecessors which clearly indicates there has been no political allegiance.
    

3. The Campaign has very publicly supported the efforts for this year and offered assistance in making the arrival of the Big Wheel and the opening of Dreamland with rides a success. It has also been made clear we will support the retrospective planning application for the Big Wheel.
    

4. The Campaign objected to the demolition of a number of listed buildings on site as we felt it premature. In order for such buildings to be demolished there has to be very clear plans as to the future development and the reasons they need to go. Waterbridge failed to provide any evidence other than to tidy things up. We would suggest it was the firms failure to provide evidence to the local authority that led to refusal, our role was purely to point out the shortcomings in the application and where it failed to meet the criteria in the legislation.  Similarly this Campaign has raised, with Thanet council, the issue of the unsightly fence being put up very close to the Scenic Railway. In our opinion this too breaches the legislation in respect of the appropriate setting for a listed structure. There seems to be a lack of understanding that the Scenic Railway at Dreamland has national and international importance and as such should be protected.
    

5. This Campaign has acted as a catalyst for interested parties to meet Members and Officers of the Council and confirm that there is an interest to buy and operate Dreamland, which includes investment of considerable sums to develop it as an up to date, exciting facility. The major stumbling block is the ‘hope value’ placed on the site by the wording of the Local Plan, the subject of our campaign so far, also criticised by the independent Inspector in his report.
    

6. All consultation exercises so far have shown the vast majority of the people of Thanet want Dreamland to remain an amusement park.
    

7. To date the Save Dreamland Campaign has made no comment about Mr Hunter or his company. As Mr Hunter has yet to publish any details of his plans there is nothing to comment about but he can be assured that whatever happens personal abuse will not be the way we do business.

Readers will be free to draw their own conclusions as to why the development company, via their Chairman Mr Hunter, should decide to engage in such a personal battle.

The Save Dreamland Campaign has made clear its objectives are to work for the maintenance of the Dreamland site as an Amusement Park and to preserve the Scenic Railway, acknowledging its historic importance. Our Supporters join us on that basis and have done so in their thousands.

Susan Marsh 
Hon Secretary, The Save Dreamland Trust
 

Theme park boss says group's campaign is getting personal

Theme park chief Toby Hunter has blasted the Save Dreamland group for running a "campaign against him."

It is his second broadside launched at the group in the past few months. In an exclusive interview with the Isle of Thanet Gazette in February, Mr Hunter lashed out at the group claiming it "has not invested a single penny into Margate - but makes a lot of noise."

This time, Mr Hunter accuses the group of launching a personal campaign in an extraordinary exchange of e-mails with group leader Nick Laister. In an e-mail exchange, Mr Hunter slammed the Save Dreamland Campaign for not supporting the "undoubted efforts" his company is putting into Dreamland's summer season, adding: "The substantial comments from all in Margate that we have received following the erection of the new wheel has truly been heartfelt. I wish your campaign could join the celebration."

He goes on: "Margate is a tremendous town - with a huge heart and great potential. Your historical focus on previous owners now seems very outdated. Please look to the future and recognise that MTCRC Ltd is here to develop some world class facilities in leisure and supported by mixed use (not financially supported but for the good of an attractive urban regeneration). Your continued campaign against me is starting to look vindictive and small minded."

Mr Laister replied, denying any campaign against Mr Hunter, and said the group accepted limited residential development at Dreamland to ensure its "long term survival".  He said Save Dreamland welcomed the big wheel and would be writing in support of the retrospective planning permission.

Mr Laister added: "I don't understand your comment about a campaign against you."

He said later: "As far as you and MTCRC go, we await your proposals with interest and nothing would give us greater pleasure than supporting you. I wish you every success for 2006, and if there is anything that the campaign can do in terms of publicity, events or actual physical help with preparing the site, please do not hesitate to ask. There are some very enthusiastic people out there."
 

Nick,

I read with interest your latest letter setting out your position with regard to the site - I am interested to note that you see residential as acceptable to encourage regeneration in Margate.

What I am most disappointed about is the lack of praise for the undoubted effort that my company is trying to put into the Margate 2006 season. The substantial comments from all in Margate, that we have received following the erection of the new wheel has been truly heart felt. I wish your campaign could join the celebration and congratulate MTCRC Ltd.

Please clarify for me your relationship with Phil Miller - does your planning consultancy act for him - have you a conflict of interest? If not why are you so afraid to embrace the activities of MTCRC Ltd?

Margate is a tremendous town - with a huge heart and great potential. Your historical focus on previous owners now seems very outdated. Please look to the future and recognise that MTCRC Ltd is here to develop some world class facilities in leisure and supported by mixed use (not financially supported but for the good of an attractive urban regeneration.

Your continued campaign against me - is starting to look vindictive and small minded.

Toby Hunter
 

Fun park group hits the streets

More than 350 objections have been handed in to Thanet council by Save Dreamland campaigners as part of a protest against plans for homes being considered at the Margate fun park site. The pressure group put forward views collected from members and the public on Friday, March 31, the deadline for views on the local plan, the blueprint for development in Thanet for the next ten years.

Thanet council wants to allow consideration for homes and other uses for the theme park plot against the recommendation of the government inspector who chaired the public inquiry into the local plan last summer. The inspector agreed with campaigners the council should only allow a funfair on the site. Save Dreamland took to the streets to canvas people's views.

Campaigner Sarah Vickery said: "The council has not been taking the public seriously. We feared consultation fatigue had set in and we wanted to engage people." For details, go to www.savedreamland.co.uk.