Mechanical Memories Magazine
Issue: 2013-March - Issue 74 - Page 4
Dreamland
MARGATE
Save Dreamland Update March 2013
Back in January this year I celebrated 10 years of the Save Dreamland Campaign by
recalling the events of that first year. I propose to occasionally continue that article
over the coming months, by reviewing a further year in the life of the Campaign. In
this month's MMM, and exclusive to MMM, I continue the story with the events of
our second year, 2004, which saw the Campaign attend its first ever public inquiry ...
10 YEARS OF THE SA VE DREAMLAND CAMPAIGN: 2004
In an interview featured in the January 2004 edition of amusement park industry
magazine Park World, the operator of Dreamland throughout the 2003 season,
showman David Wallis, confirmed that he would be interested in operating the park
again for the 2004 season. This was great news, and showed that Dreamland continued
to be a viable operation. In a separate interview David Collard, who operated the
Scenic Railway independently throughout the 2003 season, stated, "It worked out very
well and easily paid for itself, with quite a bit left over".
At the time of this news, I made a statement on the Save Dreamland Campaign
website, which summed up the position as I saw it at the time:
"This is yet more good news for Margate. We already knew that more than one
established theme park operator w.ants to buy the site and invest in its rides and
attractions. We now have further confirmation that this important tourist attraction is
a viable business. The very person who operated it this year has now confirmed that
he would do it again next year. He would not be doing that if the park doesn't make
money.
"And further confirmation from Dave Collard that the Scenic Railway, operated
as a separate concession, can more than pay its way is very welcome news indeed.
Park World very cleverly identifies the only real issue that we have to deal with now.
We now know the park is viable; that is no longer the issue. Park World correctly
identifies that land values are the only issue remaining. We now call on the Council -
with all the evidence now available to it - to stand firm in its rejection of retail on the
site. "
Page4
MARGATE
Save Dreamland Update March 2013
Back in January this year I celebrated 10 years of the Save Dreamland Campaign by
recalling the events of that first year. I propose to occasionally continue that article
over the coming months, by reviewing a further year in the life of the Campaign. In
this month's MMM, and exclusive to MMM, I continue the story with the events of
our second year, 2004, which saw the Campaign attend its first ever public inquiry ...
10 YEARS OF THE SA VE DREAMLAND CAMPAIGN: 2004
In an interview featured in the January 2004 edition of amusement park industry
magazine Park World, the operator of Dreamland throughout the 2003 season,
showman David Wallis, confirmed that he would be interested in operating the park
again for the 2004 season. This was great news, and showed that Dreamland continued
to be a viable operation. In a separate interview David Collard, who operated the
Scenic Railway independently throughout the 2003 season, stated, "It worked out very
well and easily paid for itself, with quite a bit left over".
At the time of this news, I made a statement on the Save Dreamland Campaign
website, which summed up the position as I saw it at the time:
"This is yet more good news for Margate. We already knew that more than one
established theme park operator w.ants to buy the site and invest in its rides and
attractions. We now have further confirmation that this important tourist attraction is
a viable business. The very person who operated it this year has now confirmed that
he would do it again next year. He would not be doing that if the park doesn't make
money.
"And further confirmation from Dave Collard that the Scenic Railway, operated
as a separate concession, can more than pay its way is very welcome news indeed.
Park World very cleverly identifies the only real issue that we have to deal with now.
We now know the park is viable; that is no longer the issue. Park World correctly
identifies that land values are the only issue remaining. We now call on the Council -
with all the evidence now available to it - to stand firm in its rejection of retail on the
site. "
Page4
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).