It appears as if Thanet District Council have been swift to react to remarks made by Dr Phyllis Starkey, chair of the communities and local government committee who is reported by Thanet Times as saying Margate people are ''wallowing in nostalgia'' , ''one issue is how Margate seafront can have a vision for the 21st century''. A quick drive along the tatty and decaying 'Golden Mile' , assuming you can take your eyes away from some of the rather sleazy establishments and look seawards, you will notice that the municipal bulldozer has been in action, and you will now be able to make out, the outline of the New Margate, marked by large banks of sand.
Fortunately our council are full of good ideas, and it is hoped that the council will be able to use the many consultants reports its commissioned over the years as landfill including this latest one by Dr Phyllis Starkey and her committee.
The reclaimed land will be home to a new seafront, fit for the 21st century, along the all-new Marine Terrace, will be Palm trees, to shield visitors from old Margate, there will be cafes, where visitors may top up their bladder with more coffee, and enjoy cafe society ambience for the last time before boarding their train home having had a wonderful day at the Turner Contemporary.
Frankly I have problems with all these outsiders who have wonderful ideas for Margate, we are told that Dreamland is not viable as an amusement facility, it's just strange that Alton Towers, Chessington, Thorpe Park, Drayton Manor and Blackpool Pleasure Beach all manage to function in the 21st century.
Maybe the question Dr Phyllis Starkey should ask, is why the owners of Dreamland leisure park, may prefer a change of use rather than knuckle down and make Dreamland a success.
As for the consultation process, which we hear so much about why was half of Dreamland turned into a car-park, I just wonder who's kidding who?
If you would like to know who Dr Phyllis Starkey is click here, finally I'm not sure I need advice from someone who represents Milton Keynes south-west, where I imagine nostalgia is an abstract concept .
Similar sand embankments were under costruction at Viking Bay on Monday. Perhaps these are in preparation for Romania's full entry to the EU or the war in Iraq is going worse than even the generals are now admitting
ReplyDeleteAlton Towers, Chessington, Thorpe Park, Drayton Manor and Blackpool Pleasure Beach you say all manage to function in the 21st Century. Why? I can tell you Chessington & Thorpe Park function because they are in affluent areas with a 360 degree cachment area and are purpose built. Other than Blackpool I can't comment. On Blackpool, they actually are having similar problems to Margate in that the crowds are way down on what they were, possibly because of Alton Towers which is equidistant between Manchester & Birmingham. Yes Margate & Thanet are stuck in nostalgia and apathy, though that seems to be changing at last. Lets have a couple of major attractions like a sealife centre and Futurscope attraction (Google it), get rid of all this traditional seaside trashy tat. Less is More.
ReplyDeleteMy Polish cleaner just moved to Milton Keynes, because, she said, it was 'very nice'.
ReplyDeleteI absolutly agree with Dave..we need major new attractions and get rid of the apathy that resides in this town,it is time for change!
ReplyDeleteIf you hollowed them out you might be able to use them as an art gallery.
ReplyDeleteTurner Dunes.
You could run a competition and redesign them every 6 months or so at 12mill a go
Dreamland could and should be successful Alton towers is in the back of beyond, with crap roads, Blackpool pleasure beach is in the frozen north,Drayton Manor park is on the road to knowhere.
ReplyDeleteIts all about promotion, Dreamland could not have done more to look closed for business this year if it had tried in my opinion