Mechanical Memories Magazine

Dreamland
MARGATE
Save Dreamland Update September 2011
The big news over the summer was the decision by English Heritage to upgrade the
listing status of the Scenic railway from Grade II to Grade II*. This is wonderful
news. The Scenic Railway was listed Grade II in March 2002, and this amendment to
its status is an entirely appropriate recognition for this rare and vulnerable structure,
coincidentally coming exactly 10 years after I first wrote to the Department of Culture,
Media and Sport in July 2001 asking them to consider listing the ride. It puts the
Scenic Railway into the top 6% most important listed buildings in the country. This is
a great springboard for the restoration works that will be starting on the ride over the
coming months. More news on that very soon.
Thanet District Council served a Compulsory Purchase Order on the various owners of
the Dreamland site on 3 June. The order has been served on the entire Dreamland site,
not just the amusement park section. The remainder of the site will be used for car
parking, events, an area of open space and for the future expansion of Dreamland.
Dreamland's owners, Margate Town Centre Regeneration Company Ltd, has formally
objected. There is now therefore likely to be a public inquiry.
An application for £3m of Heritage Lottery funding was submitted on 28 July and has
been confirmed received by HLF. We anticipate a decision in November.
The latest controversy to hit Margate is the proposed Tesco development on the
Arlington site overlooking Dreamland. If this development goes ahead, the future
backdrop to the Scenic Railway will be the blank rear wall of the supermarket and a
service yard. English Heritage will now be considering whether the proposed store
will harm the setting of the Scenic Railway following its upgrade to Grade II* status.
The Council had resolved to grant permission for the redevelopment, but the
upgrading of the Scenic to Grade II* prior to the decision being issued has resulted in
the council agreeing to reconsider the application (following a threat of legal action by
a solicitor instructed by objectors if they did not). The main issue is whether the new
development will harm the setting of the Grade II* listed structure and/or the setting of
the group of three listed buildings on Dreamland, the group value of which was partly
the reason for the upgrading of the Scenic listing.
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