Do we need another, even if it’s Tesco-on-Sea

Before I go on too much, I have to say that when it was suggested that Tesco build a whooping great big supermarket on Margate front, I thought it utterly bonkers, for this reason, it would be out of place and stuff up the traffic (stuff wasn't the actual word).

I couldn’t imagine Thanet’s councillors would be so feeble, so insensitive or that stupid to wreck the efforts to improve Margate with a ( in my view, Tesco lawyers please note) hideous supermarket opposite the beach.

But lets face it, few Thanet councillors inspire confidence and the same sadly could be said of “officers” a view you may feel outrageous, but with the town having seen massive investment, to regenerate and build on a cultural niche, it just seemed incredible that the council would allow Tesco to distort the town is such an awful way.

I don’t dispute Tesco can be innovative like the Tesco I bought breakfast this morning (the old Hoover building on the A40) but the designs we’ve seen so far are crap in my opinion.

I have to say I was surprised to find what was a forthright editorial referring to Tesco amongst last Friday's Gazette letters page, even eclipsing the contribution by new Labour leader? Ian Driver. Well done Rebecca!

If we do somehow need a new flipping Tesco in Thanet to compliment the two superstores? two metro? two express (one about to be built) couldn't the council having changed the local plan to suit Tesco at least ask them to design something special as was the case, with the the Hoover building I mentioned earlier, something that not only compliments their bottom line but also enhances the look of our town and so that visitors on the beach are not constantly reminded of some grisly retail park.

Failing that I suggest the people of Margate boycott Tesco.

Grim picture as Margate's dependency is highlighted

Yesterday The Sun made a big issue of the countries hotspots of welfare dependency, a grim league table with Margate rolling in at Number 7, obviously I'm not placed to comment with any authority as my Labour buddies will be only to happy to remind you.

With no wish to be kind to either Labour or Tories I'll give you my highly inaccurate thoughts and background, firstly the "welfare state" as a concept first explained to me, when I was a kid,  was set up as a safety net for those who through no fault lost their jobs or were incapable and in need of help along with a health service, social services and education for all.

That was the ideal sold in the 60's and 70's, since then both the Tories and Labour have succeeded in twisting purpose, for their own ideological reasons, Mrs Thatcher's regime succeeded, when it set out to destroy manufacturing, along with mining industry and with no regard to society, happy to discard whole communities.  Part of the price for destroying industry, was feeding just enough money, to those set aside to keep them inline, so the welfare system was re-engineered so that money was diverted to sick benefits rather than unemployment benefits, the safety net idea started to disappeared whereby benefits had been a temporary measure for those in need between jobs for example. The damage done by Thatcher was of such scale that many communities have never recovered.

Labour came back to power in 1997, they had a mandate, they had good will, they seemed to have, a commonsense approach, they would reform, well bollix!  One of the first measures was to take the brakes off the banks and with in the first two weeks Labour took away perhaps the most important of universal benefits that of a right to a free education,  David Blunkett couldn't sign up to quick enough to the abolition of free university education, which is why kids with talent could well face milestones around their necks of a hundred grand, well done Labour!. In fact Labours recent time in office was characterised by MP's filling their boots at your expense, reforms were the last thing on their minds and that of their leaders, remember they're still doing alright and for some with speaking engagements and book deals, happy days!.

Apologies for the last couple of paragraphs not really relevant, but a general background, right how did Margate get in such a state, well no doubt a change in social habits and peoples expectations, tourism certainly is big factor in Margate's decline but so possibly is the lack of manufacturing a significant amount being transferred to china, as even the miserly minimum wage is too much for some business.

Still the biggest blows to Margate economy have been the creation of the Westwood retail parks and the uncontested destruction of Dreamland Amusement park of which Labour and Conservative council administrations are to blame.

Now the present, in a few months the Turner Contemporary is due to open, whether this is a success, depends much on what is shown there and in all honesty what we've seen so far at the M&S building has been dire, so fingers crossed they don't choose a load of old **** , still this time next year, we will know if comparisons with Bilbao, and St. Ives stand up. Dreamland Museum Theme park ( a world first) might just open in two years time. Whether this will result in jobs and money sloshing around town is debatable.

So what of Margate's dependency culture, what realistic chances, are there of people moving from dependency, just where are jobs to come from short term, last year looking to work closer to home, I found that unlike ten years ago, you cannot just ring up an agency and find yourself working the next day.  Labour having expanded the workforce, rather than tackle welfare dependency, which has created local circumstances, where the working population has increased dragging down wages and excluding local people at the same time.

I am sure that the legacy of both Labour and the Conservatives will haunt Margate and Thanet for many a year, and while the conservatives are right to tackle those who've bludged off taxpayers for years, I wonder what can be achieved and at what cost to those, who are now trapped in the dependency culture, still the worst aspect of this is the immoral bleatings of the Labour party who have a "nothing to do with us" attitude. Still no surprise for a party lead by a man who can't commit to marry his partner or having his name on his sons birth certificate.

Its my belief that local politicians are both weak and negligent in representing this area, this area contributes millions to Kent County Council and yet only the minimum spend is made back here in Margate and Thanet its about time money spent in the West of the county Maidstone, West Malling etc got spread over to these parts, it is our money.

Dreamland Trust receives cash boost

According to local newspapers, the Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded the Dreamland Trust £384,500, good news for once, although at this stage the money given is just so much candyfloss, as campaigners now hope to apply for a further £2.65 million for the initial phase of the project.

Just while we're thinking about this, it will be interesting to know what is actually happening to the scenic railway, presumably Thanet council's planning department are dealing with this in their usual efficient way, which might explain why I can't actually recall how long ago one third of this structure was consumed by flames.

Margate as we all know has been subject to incredibly inept stewardship, which has pretty much encompassed Sandy Ezekiel's reign as leader of Thanet Council, in his time large swathes of Margate retail business has disappeared along of course with Dreamland amusement park.

In fact the only growth in recent years around Margate, has been of luxury flats, which in reality due to their poor construction, are in reality tomorrow's slums and in the main rented by families on low income and no suprise that some developments have gone spectacularly bust like the Seabathing development.

Any how it's pleasing to see that local campaigners will be receiving lottery funds, on a project that will be mainstream in its appeal, as of course the lottery is itself which makes a change since vast amounts of lottery funds usually head straight for art projects, that appeal to nobody except the delusional elite, the sort who consider Damien Hirst and dare I say Tracey Emin to be great artists.

A minor victory for the common man I think, although for myself rather than proposed heritage stuff, I'd rather see something a little more cutting edge than a heritage theme park, still I suppose like everything else, in Margate we will take what we are given.

click here for this is thanet story

click here for KM Online story

Its back to the future for Dreamland

Although Margate no longer has a town museum, it has a hotel which boasts the fact it's, part museum and has its own curator, which clearly works well in the hospitality industry, as I'm sure most of us prefer traditional surroundings to that of the impersonal cells offered by the large hotel chains.

The Save Dreamland campaign, are making a big public announcement this coming Sunday, about their plans to create a heritage theme park, if you'd care to take a butcher's at their website you will find copious details on recent meetings they have had with various organisations.

Clearly much work has been done recently to pursue the dream of an amusement park, so enthusiasts can dust off ancient fairground attractions and breathe life into them once more.

A lot will depend on whether the Margate Regeneration Partnership support their plans, since this unelected and unrepresentative (of Margate People) quango will be pivotal in encouraging organisations like SEEDA and English heritage into coughing up the dosh needed.

Also they will need to get a reasonable deal (cheap) with the grandly titled “Margate Town Centre Regeneration Co” which I take is just a fancy name for the property speculators who own the Dreamland site, hopefully at this point in time, it will be possible to screw a decent price out of them, since it cannot be easy to have large capital assets in times like these sitting their depreciating.

Whether a heritage theme park will work is a different matter, I understand this is a world first for which their might be a reason. Dreamland is a world famous brand, and I find it astonishing that no company has come forward in recent times to make something of it.

Still what do I know, the thing about all fairgrounds, theme parks that I have been to date is their freshness, topicality even if the rides are old, they generally display graphics which are fresh, so I just hope this doesn't turn out like some sad heritage railway, all about the enthusiast and not the punter.

Finally and again I’m just speaking for myself, unlike a hotel room where I want comfortable cosy reassuring surroundings, at an amusement park I want the unfamiliar uncomfortable and to be frightened er sh witless!

Thanet pride in the sunshine

Yesterday's Thanet pride event, proved once again how popular Margate is, when people are provided with a bit of entertainment. I believe this is the second year for of Thanet Pride, although I have heard rumours that it may be the last, which would be regrettable, since it appears popular with the local community.

Obviously on a nice sunny day Margate Beach, will always be popular, but events such as Thanet Pride will have enhanced visitors experience with some additional entertainment Also the Big Sky Jazz Festival has started and is on until the 2nd of August, details of which if you will find if you click here.

Naturally there is a limit, to the amount of events that can be held in Margate, so to my mind, something else is needed in Margate apart from the Turner contemporary and something which our council need to address is the whopping great big hole behind Marine Terrace, owned by property speculators which used to be dreamland (attracting two million visitors a year).

In fact with the property market going tits up, and developers going bust, maybe now would be the ideal time to talk to the owners of the site about making a serious attempt, to bring dreamland back from the dead. Anyway the sun is shining and Margate is looking good which is more than can be said of some of our local leaders!

Words will not fix Dreamland

I doubt it yesterdays events came as any shock to any of us, the only thing most of us felt was the terrible realisation that what we thought would likely happen did, and now we can look forward to a full enquiry and well you lot can guess the outcome. I think it might be worth considering however that the speed with which this fire spread might well have had something to do the wood preservatives and oil soaking into the timbers for many years.

All that said, it might now be time for our councillors to get tough, and do everything in their power to prevent the scenic railway goinig the way of everything else in this town.

I seem to remember one Sandy Ezekiel (and Roger Gale) talking tough, earlier last year, when there was a suggestion of turning the Nayland Rock into a detention centre for failed asylum seekers.

Now you will get the reply from Thanet councillors that its too expensive, its private land blah blah blah, if that's the case why did Thanet council spend what must have been thousands in preparing a planning brief, similar to one made up by some of the sites owners and then give a lot of spin to the following public consultation, presumably if all the cards are with the developers in this town, why not do us all a favour a get rid of the planning department, which could easily be replaced with one clerk a rubber approval stamp and lots of bloody ink.

Perhaps Sandy Ezekiel could explain the role of the planning department and why we waste money on local plans, when all we get is the council agreeing with developers.

Finally if the interest that has been shown in Dreamland in the last day is anything to go by (750+ views of my video in 24 hours), it puts those claims of some, that is you cannot run a viable theme park here in doubt, . Its not that long ago that two million visited each year.



PS we all know what is being said and thought, out in the locality, but whether we agree or not one thing is for sure, comments made via the internet can be traced to source, and there are those who quite rightly have the means and the resources to protect their reputation for what its worth.

FIRE AT DREAMLAND BURNS DOWN SCENIC RAILWAY

Dreamland Fire (A Last Chance to Wake up)

As you may or may not know, I have often written on the Topic of Margate's Dreamland amusement park, and if you wish some background please click here or on the Label Dreamland at the bottom of this post.

Now I think it would only make matters worse, than they already, if those conversations that I expect you and your family friends or whatever will have had tonight, or even those overheard in Margate this evening, were published, the simple fact is we don't know what caused this tragic event.

This could be a catalyst for those who have listened to the disinformation concerning development Dreamland, to demand a more sypathetic future for the site, the council have promoted an unsupportable housing development, to occur on the site, even to the extent of the council getting involved with drawing up plans sympathetic and similar to those plans suggested by one of the properties owners.

I hope that this terrible act of God does not result in the listed Scenic Railway, being lost forever. Thanet council in my opinion have not taken into consideration the vast majority of local residents who would have liked to have seen the local planning authorities show a little backbone in their dealings and maybe have forced return the site to its historical use.

Things to watch out for in the future, the scenic railway not being rebuilt or being rebuilt and then moved to maximise speculative property development. Also look out for crocodile tears from our coffee swilling, property promoting politicians, who will no doubt mourn the passing of one of our last traditional assets.

Quick postcript Dreamland is more than some object, for rich developers, it happens part of us the public, our history and culture, a quick reaction from Mrs Me, who remembered fondly looking for er young men ( in the amusement park), well sorry to say she end up with a fat fifty year old F-wit, anyhow Thanet's mediocre politicians have done little protect us the public, it makes you wonder what they think the planning departments for?

MARGATE SOME CONSULTATION?

This week's Isle Of Thanet Gazette has the frontpage question MARGATE - WHAT NEXT? The gazette addresses issues over the controversial plans for The Dreamland amusement site.

I must say for a variety of reasons, I'm more than confused, I shall elaborate. Over the last few years some things have never been explained adequately, the owners of the Dreamland amusement park have dismantled an established business with a worldwide reputation, surely not as some long cynical process, to turn the site into prime housing land.



The council have as I understand already changed the local plan once to accomodate Dreamlands owners and are in the process of doing so again, despite the advice of a government inspector that dreamland was an assest worth saveing. Till now the owners could only get a change of use for the land, if they were able to prove the site could not be made viable as a leisure facility, now it seems the council are ready to back down all the way and consider other developments such as housing.



In August this year the cabinet meeting of Thanet District Council considered a plan for Dreamland amusement park and Arlington Square, which I thought they would put out for proper local consultation, so far the consultations look as thought it has gone underground.



Then we come to this week, the council hold a consultation meeting, advertised with full page notices, and since the councils spent so much in promoting this event, I thought it would only be polite to go along.



This meeting was offered as a consultation about renewal, so naturally I thought someone would be on hand to hear comments about the renewal of the dreamland amusement park site, this being perhaps the biggest development likely to take place in Margate for some considerable time.



I doubt you'll be surprised to hear, that when I went there no one was available from the council familiar with this project, although I did speak with Derek Harding part of SEEDA Margate regeneration quango thingy.



Assuming by this point you haven't given up the will to live, I'm convinced that a public consultation on this plan to redevelop dreamland and also incidentally create traffic mayhem by restricting traffic along Marine Terrace is probably irrelevant as I believe minds have already been made up by the planning authorities.
THE RED LINE SHOWS PROPSED TRAFFIC DIVERSION INTO MARGATES BACK STREETS

Part of the proposals by both the council and the landowners of Dreamland, are I understand for a new access road, which will come out into Eaton Road. Interestingly there seems to be a clump of properties currently being demolished to make way for new flats, which are at the planning stage I wonder whether they get built, since it would be the ideal place for the suggested new road.

Anyway what really worries me is what the local council are playing at, in August they produced a planning brief for the site, which to my mind seems a tad too proactive for a planning authority, whose principal role presumably is to regulate and interpret planning regulations for the benefit of local populace.



The bottom line is if the Thanet Council are under any obligation to consult with the local people then it should be done in a clear and well publicized way, yes there has been a drop session(whatever that might be) and a further one on 17 October 5.00pm - 7.00pm, if your passing the very accessable commitee rooms (I think somewhere up on the third floor of the council offices) and if you get lost who knows what you might find.



Just as a conclusion the Dreamland planning brief, finishes off with a list of those who will be consulted they are Natural England -English heritage - Kent Highway Services - Environment Agency - The Countryside Agency -CABE - The 20th Century Society - Statutory Undertakers - The Emergency Services -Network Rail - The Theatres Trust - Kent police "Secure By Design"



I'm sure the author of the brief intended to mention the public as a significant group to be consulted.



If you would like more information Thanet Council have produced a simplified planning brief (two pages) off if and consultation form on this page CLICK HERE



If you would like full the Dreamland brief (18 pages) including the nasty bits like maps showing areas of flood risk CLICK HERE



Also the notes from the Cabinet agenda CLICK HERE

Forget anything else the "DREAMLAND BRIEF" is likely to be the most significant issue to effect Margate for years to come (and that includes the Turner Gallery) surprising that Sandy Ezekiel and his deputy and Roger Latchford are keeping quiet on the matter, still given the latters expertise on Ramsgate Harbour beach maybe its a good thing.

Goodnight Dreamland

News that Dreamland cinema is to close in November should come as no shock to anyone, particularly those who have been to both the Dreamland cinema in Margate and any modern multiplex cinema.

I'm fairly sure that the last film I saw, at the Dreamland cinema was saving Private Ryan, during which I pondered whether Tom Hanks was less comfortable, fighting his way off the beach than me sitting in front of the big screen.

At the risk of offending local cinema operators, people's expectations have changed since the 1930s which I think is more then can be said for the decor of the dreamland the cinema, although butchered sometime in the late seventies, I for one have never felt any effort was put into customer comfort.

Although to be fair, there are worst cinemas in Thanet, like the one I saw King Kong at, which not only was tatty and grubby but unbelievably cold, fortunately I was saved from exposure by discovery of a woolly hat in my coat pocket.

Operating cinemas is a business, and the public expect a quality product, which is why the last time I went to the cinema, I travelled to Ashford so that I could enjoy the film, rather than endure the discomfort.

I don't suppose for 1 minute that the announcement of the closure, will change Thanet districts council's plans for Dreamland, the site. All that remains to be seen, is whether the building remains once it's been vacated, I personally think it will disappear before you can say art deco and listed building.

I doubt whether any cinema management teams, can operate 1930s buildings successfully as cinemas, in competition with multiplex venue's that have convenient parking, clean facilities, air conditioning and maybe heating in the winter months.

LOCAL DEMOCRACY DOES IT EXIST?

A weeks or so back I attended the of Thanet District council cabinet meeting, as ever this was a fairly tedious gathering, myself being 1/3 of the public audience. Looking around the room, I considered what sort of democracy we actually have in this country, and felt deeply disillusioned.

I'm no expert in council meetings, and cabinet meetings appeared to be even less democratic than the full council. Basically my interpretation of a cabinet meeting, is a public announcement of policies that have already been decided by the top nobs of the ruling group, allowing opposition members to beg for leniency, and the ruling group to make derisory comments or be magnanimous where applicable.

Even more unsettling, are the ranks of council officers, who appear to sit behind, you're elected representatives, apart from I think the chief executive, Richard Samuel who if my memory serves me correct, sits next to the leader Sandy Ezekiel. Now why do I say unsettling, well the fact is again going from memory, these paid " professionals" are occasionally requested to chip in with advice or their opinion, which makes you wonder, why every four years we go through the process of electing representatives, surely there must be more to local elections, than providing an opportunity for council employees to earn an extra quid or two by sitting in a draughty church hall handing out ballot papers.

Anyway as you will appreciate, I have not been blogging much recently, this may be because I'm either bored, disillusioned or have better things to do. As it happens, this weekend I had a chance to get out into the countryside, and wound up on the downs above the village of Wye, from the top of these hills there are some magnificent views, but looking towards Wye I was reminded of how not long ago, big business, Ashford borough council, and Kent County council, had plans drawn up to encircle the village with a a vast new housing estate, on some apparent flimsy excuse that Imperial college were building a high tech science park. Fortunately due to tenacious public spirited locals, an embarrassed Imperial college were forced to back down on their outrageous plans to destroy an area of outstanding natural beauty.

Now coming back to my reason for attending, the recent cabinet meeting, my concerns are with Thanet District councils, plans for Dreamland amusement site, as well as proposals to block traffic along Marine Terrace, and send it into the back streets of Margate. Now without consultation with the locals, the council's brilliant planning office, have apparently decided to ignore their previous plans for Dreamland, and just to put the icing on the cake will create traffic chaos of a far greater magnitude than when the county council put traffic lights at the clock tower.

Now there will be a public consultation over this, but if you're anything like me, you will realise that a public consultation, is a process whereby councilors and local bureaucrats put forward an idea then proceed to ignore any criticism and do, what they were going to do anyway, just so that they can wallow in their own self righteousness.

The council in arriving at their plan, have not consulted with any member the public, they have spoken with interested parties, the developers, various government departments and quangos, even the campaign for Dreamland (a group which seems to be interested in prehistoric fairground rides) whose leader according to Eastcliff Richard is not even local.

My personal judgment of local democracy, is that it doesn't actually exist, at least not in any meaningful way. Still when you consider the handful of people, who actually are involved in the democratic process, it's no surprise that, things are as they are.

For further information, firstly I suggest you, have a nice walk in the countryside out at Wye click here for details, to clear your mind, then maybe look at the " save -wye.org" website to get an insight into how local government really works. I would particularly recommend this posting which refers to "corruption".

Dreamland amusement park carve up?

Later this week Thanet District council will be proposing a new briefing document for Dreamland and Margate. How astonishing is it that is Thanet District council, have come up with a plan for dreamland, which closely matches, one suggested by the developers Waterbridge.

As far as a planning considerations were concerned for Thanet's most critical site in terms of both character and future prosperity, most of us were still under the misapprehension, that Thanet district council would somehow play the game.

When the great minds of Thanet Council last chewed over this particular problem, they decided to ignore the advice from a government inspector, which had suggested retaining the whole Dreamland site for its traditional use and allow Waterbridge to have a change of use on the site, if they could prove that an amusement park was not economically viable on the site.

I'm sure that Thanet District council, are just being helpful to our friends from Reading, rather than make them go through the motions of presenting their case for a seaside housing estate, and then agreeing with them, to save all that fuss and bother, they would just move the timetable ahead a bit and save all those embarrassing arguments as to whether Waterbridge is profiteering at the expense of Margate Town.

Anyway for those of you who are interested, or have the stomach for the details of this carve up of Margate Town centre, you can see what your Tory councilors are doing, click here for the cabinet agenda for Thursday's meeting, click here to read the report by the head of development services, and click here for the brief (which gives details of not only how dreamland will be decimated or should that be desiccated but also plans to disrupt traffic into Margate and Cliftonville).

Just as a side issue, it seems a rather sad that the save Dreamland campaign, have apparently embraced this nonsense about a heritage theme park, what they have actually agreed to by the looks of it, is a museum of rusty dusty and musty fairground rides. One of the things that used to make Dreamland so exciting was the constant change, this heritage nonsense is almost as exciting as a Thanet district council cabinet meeting.

I bet that the management of Waterbridge, cannot believe their luck in choosing to plough their money into an area with such a helpful local authority.

Incidentally my apologies for not blogging recently, but I have had more important things to do recently, driving over to Ashford for instance, to catch the Simpsons movie in a decent cinema (hopefully it will not be long before we have a new cinema at Westwood), also I had been attempting catch up on Harry Potter, although since my sister told me the end of the last book when I was halfway through, what's the bloody point.

Anyway if I can drag myself back to the keyboard, I will do, I must say I find real life more fantastic than fictional worlds.

Thanet District council capitulate over Dreamland

Thanet District council have announced a major step forward for Margate's regeneration. What a surprise that the council will be the bending over backwards for developers at the Dreamland site. The news item on their website, says it all, firstly they acknowledge working closely with the Margate Renewal Partnership (this is an organisation set up by SEEDA), next they refer to working closely with key stakeholders as they should, although their idea of a stakeholder, is not quite what it would seem.

Just shooting off at a tangent, the term stakeholder, is one of those of new labour sort of words, which sounds good but in actual fact means anything and nothing. If you thought you, as a local resident and or contributor to local taxes, were a key stakeholder think again, in Sandy Ezekiel's administration key stakeholders are SEEDA (South East England development agency) Kent County Council, English partnerships (more unelected civil servants), and the save Dreamland campaign (who seemed to have given up the fight).

Anyway it looks like without waiting for Waterbridge, to submit their grim plans for yet another housing estate, Thanet planning authorities will be making life even easier for developers once again by tampering with the your local plan.

Thanet Council are now encouraging more housing, and by going along with the so called heritage plan for Dreamland site, I am convinced that any so called heritage amusement park will fail, and will a few years down the road become just another phase of residential property development. You only have to have, visited the site last year to see how to sink a fun park.

It'll be interesting to see how much support, Kent regional newspapers (Isle Of Thanet Gazette), give this news since they are heavily reliant on advertising from Thanet District council, as well as doing a little bit for the Margate Town centre regeneration company.

About the only concession Thanet council are not making is renaming Margate as Reading-on-sea.

Read Thanet District councils miserable news posting click here

Shock-horror on the domestic front!

Yesterday's problems with the PC have now been resolved, and Mr Puss seems to have calmed down a bit.

So today I thought I would, have a quick comment on Sandy Ezekiels, reaction to news that the Nayland Rock hotel is about to become a detention centre for asylum seekers. According to yesterday's Thanet Times, our Sandy is quite passionate on this subject, but since I have little time, to analyse the great man's opinions fully as reported in the Thanet Times, I'll get straight to the heart of the matter.

It's suggested that councillor Ezekiel, will use every lawful means at the Council's disposal, to oppose the Nayland Rock becoming Britain's first seaside prison. Sandy is quoted as saying 'this is a change of use and will fight this through planning and use every enforcement tool available to us to ensure this does not go ahead' . Now if nothing else that shows a clear commitment, to defending Margates traditional role as a seaside town.

The motivation for this tough line, is apparently the effect it will have on regeneration of Margate and I for one fully agree with him on this. Now the only problem I have, is the unequal treatment, given to two of Margates assets, on the one hand we want to keep traditional hotels in Margate but seemingly on the other hand Dreamland, again a traditional asset vital to the future and character of the town, has been abandoned by Sandy Ezekiels administration.

On exactly the same question, that of the change of use, the Tory lead council, could not capitulate quick enough, to the rather strangely named, Margate Town Centre Regeneration company based in Reading, whose owners Waterbridge, took a punt on Dreamland and hit pay dirt, when the council cleared the way for a change of use on this site.

Had Thanet council had the balls, to also stand up to Waterbridge, in the same way they appear to be about to do with the Nayland Rock hotel, then I reckon the owners of the site, would have by now sold the site to an operator in the entertainment industry.

It's a pity that the Tories could not be consistent on maintaining the character of Margate. Now for some reason best known to our local Conservative Party, they frequently have a problem in understanding regeneration, their interpretation seems to be, that regeneration involves tinpot developers making a packet by building endless granny flat developments etc. Personally my interpretation of regeneration means breathing new life into the town, with such things as the Turner Contemporary Gallery but also development of other enterprises which will generate money for the town, one of these which used to be Dreamland.

The net effect of confusing, endless housing developments, retirement homes, commuter homes, granny blocks etc with regeneration is that it offers minimal, economic activity. It's unfortunate that simple minded Tories don't understand that towns need industry as much as they need housing, until they do this area is finished.

Assuming that Thanet council will allow developers to wangle their way into destroying the heart of Margate, then this area will rightly remain, the first choice, dumping ground for the Home Office rather than the last resort.

Anyway I can't discuss this much more, I have bigger concerns than Margate front, on the domestic front Mrs Me, has a better memory than I, judging by the anniversary card left ostentatiously by the kettle this morning and that slightly frosty look as I escaped out the door. Must write out that card and cook dinner before Mrs Me returns from work.(might tidy this one up later no time just now)

Pragmatism and the Save Dreamland Campaign Group

I'm prompted to revisit the subject of Margates future, particularly in relation to the self proclaimed Margate Town Centre Regeneration company (Waterbridge) Reading-based firm. Now some seemingly long time ago, Waterbridge had their initial consultation with the great public at Margates Winter Gardens.

A reason for returning to the subject, is the fact that the Save Dreamland Campaign earlier this month, offered what appears to be a conditional offer of support to one of the least worse Waterbridge plan, irritatingly called the the ''Duke of York'' proposal, reasons for which I can only guess at, maybe the Reading based firm, thought by naming it after a Royal rank, it might lessen future protests, since even in the 21st century, how many of us would be inclined to tell Waterbridge where to stick the Duke of York.

As far as I am aware, it is still necessary for Waterbridge to prove that there is a case which substantiates their claims, that it is not possible to use the dreamland site for its historic purpose, so I really wonder whether, the Dreamland campaign group, should not, take a more confrontational stand against Waterbridge.

Going back to their earlier consultation at the Winter Gardens, if I remember correctly, in part relied on a presentation by the consultancy firm Tribal which appeared to rather exaggerate, changing attitudes and make favourable claims over improved transport links, which according to the facts in relation to train and journey times, and Margate in particular are questionable. In fact an article in last week's Thanet Gazette, suggested that a journey times from London to Margate will only improve by a rather meagre 11 minutes, leaving commuters a journey time of 1 hour 38 minutes.

I'm rather disappointed with the Reading based Margate Town Centre Regeneration Company, because I understood that they would put details of their consultancy firms conclusions on their website which they haven't, I just wonder whether their case is not strong as they would wish to believe.

With our doubt, the save Dreamland campaign group, have done more, than most to maintain the heritage of Margate, however I personally think that the Waterbridge case for changing the nature of Margate is weak, and really the campaign group should put a lot of effort into countering Waterbridge's claims. Still the Dreamland campaign, have been a lone voice against the destruction of Dreamland, and as far as I can tell have received no support from Thanets Politicians particularly the Tory group, so maybe they're right to be pragmatic.

Dream quote of the week

Amidst all the propaganda and claptrap concerning Dreamland in our local newspapers this week, I was drawn to a couple of quotations in the Gazette, firstly in the runner up position must be this from Liss Werner who said referring to the plans on show ''it has been fascinating. We have kept a lot of the park's heritage in the names of some of the roads.'' ignoring the fact that both designs will bury Dreamland heritage, forever under a grisley housing development, ignoring the national importance of this site.

Despite the stiff competition however the clear winner has to be architect Chris Levett, who apparently came up with this gem ''I think my client has to be given credit in the efforts he has gone to in keeping the scenic railway in the designs'' , now I might well be mistaken, but I have been under the misapprehension, that the scenic railway has a preservation order, making it a tad difficult for Reading-based owners to do anything else but keep the scenic railway, I know there was a little misunderstanding, concerning the massive steel fence erected by developers without planning permission.

Finally it seems a bit strange that the Gazette, has yet to find any residents who are critical, of both these schemes, on my brief visit to the exhibition, it seemed that no one was that impressed with the Reading firm's plans. Really if this is part of a genuine consultation process, why is there no third alternative, restoration of the theme park, and that I think, is a question that if our local news media were doing their job properly they would be asking.

Dreamland Margate exhibition
A word of caution.

Despite the fact that, the Margate Town Centre Regeneration company, have laid on an exhibition, with their outline plans, for the Dreamland site, it was not clearly signposted, where about on the massive site, so if you're going in the next day or two and you have until 7th May, you'll find it in the left-hand corner, at the back as you come into the car-park.

As you know, I have suggested that these people, running the Margate Town Centre Regeneration company, are not stupid. It's been well publicised the they have spent or are going to spend £250,000, on consultation, now this isn't just to benefit, the local newspapers, ostensibly it's to consult us the public, great you might think their listening to us. You would be wrong however I think, because the way they are phrasing questions, seems to be a very cynical, method itself appears to be manipulating public interest in this project.

Manipulating the public? Those people I spoke to yesterday, who had eventually found the exhibition, seemed to be very strongly in favour of retention of Dreamland theme park, which as many of us realise his famous the world over. But when you look at the public exhibition feedback form, you are asked to make judgments based on two choices, minimal amusement facilities and lots of housing or no amusement facilities and even more houses. The one option you cannot take is to express your wish that in line with the government planning inspector, you wish to see this area retained as a theme park.

Here is my advice when and if you go to the exhibition, you will be handed a feedback form, on the reverse of which are a series of questions and you are asked to give a response, indicating one to five your strength of 'response' whatever that means, since this doesn't give you the opportunity to clearly and unequivocally express, your objections to both plans and preserve the area for its traditional use, I suggest you ignore the reverse side, instead make some comment, to the effect that you object to the change of use on the site.

I don't doubt that the developers will use, their feedback form, as some sort of justification for their plans, despite the fact it ignores the one option everyone would love, the restoration of the park.

Some people might even, have sympathy with the developers, since clearly their spending a lot of money, but just remember that, their in this to make money, and what's at stake here is the very character of Margate.

Here is the question that Waterbridge wont ask, do you want Margate to be a vibrant place with the Turner centre and Dreamland theme-park or would you prefer Waterbridges dull grey housing estate. PHOTO'S OF PLANS & MODELS CLICK HERE

Dreamland Margate the exhibition

I in common with others visited, the Margate Town Centre Regeneration Companies exhibition, this is my video record. Unfortunately I was unable to secure the services of ECR televisions Mr Ceaucescu (no relation), so I'm afraid another amateur, production for the Tony Flaig's Kent TV Channel. Hopefully for your sake, I will tire of this medium, shortly.

UPDATE

I understand that a lot of people will be unable to get to the exhibition so I've put up a couple of photos from the Exhibition which may be of interest CLICK THIS LINK since Dreamland is missed not just here in Margate but across the country and further afield. I hope its of help.

Dreamlands name is as strong as ever, if it were properly promoted it could work agian.

Reading's Margate Town Centre Regeneration Company

visits Margate!

This weekend, sees the return of Reading-based developer Margate Town Centre Regeneration Company, from their publicity and advertising we're informed, that they will be displaying two plans for the site.

Now my critics, who might well include Margate Town Centre Regeneration Company, will doubtless take my reference to this company being Reading-based as a fairly cheap shot, which to be honest it is, however their advertising and presentation appears to me to be a deliberate attempt give themselves the look of some officially sanctioned organisation with close links to the local community, despite the fact they're main link to Margate, is the speculative purchase, of a run down site, which they are seeking to increase in value, by changing the use.

Now so far, this company has been incredibly lucky, in my view, since a government planning inspector, recommended that the dreamland site, should remain as an attraction, but as ever the weak and feeble Conservative Thanet council, ignored this allowing for other uses in the local plan.

It seems that the currently Conservative-controlled council, cannot do enough for developers, you have to ask yourself who our local Tories think they're representing, since a majority of Thanet residents would still like to see Dreamland as a top attraction. The more you think about it the more disturbing it is I personally expect my councillors, to represent my interests and that of the community.

Dreamland was and still is one of the top brand-names, in public entertainment, despite the fact, it seems to have been run into the ground, it is absolutely shocking, that firstly the owners can apparently wreck the site and then the Conservatives can't do enough to assist them.

If the Margate Town Centre Regeneration Company, cannot operate Dreamland as an amusement park, despite the fact, most people in southern England and further afield would instantly recognise the name, what credence can you give to their alternative plans.

These people aren't stupid, were told that they are spending £250,000 on consultation, now this weekend until 7th May, in presenting two plans, what they are offering is in effect, is what a salesman would call an alternative close, basically do you prefer this plan with housing or do you prefer the other plan with more housing, thus ignoring the real choice which would be keep Dreamland as a major attraction (as per advice from a government planning inspector), or alternatively cram in as much housing and business premises as you can (presumably keeping their investors happy).

As they say it's not over till the fat lady sings, and our friends from Reading, still have to prove, that Dreamland site is not viable as an amusement park.

For the sake of Thanets future, I just hope after the local elections, the council is run by more competent people, and if the Tories win the election, let's just hope they have the good sense to at least change the leadership.

Dreamland's future, is to important and pivotal in the whole character of the town, to be decided just purely on the basis that the current owners can make more money from housing than operating a theme park. That whole argument is a joke, because if planning authorities were to base decisions on that basis, then every farmer in the country, could just plough their fields and plant housing instead.

Anyway I suggest you go along to Dreamland in the next few days, and see who Margate Town Centre Regeneration Company have really been consulting, you or their investors.

Waterbridge return for an encore!

Looks like that well-known local firm, the "Margate Town Regeneration Company" apparently based in Reading is about to roll back into town for an encore performance at the Margate Winter Gardens.

This time they're apparently arranging an exhibition of two development schemes they have planned for the Dreamland site, both of which are expected to fundamentally change both the use of the land and the character of Margate.

Presumably the idea behind it, is like that old trick of parents, who might well ask their children at bedtime, which story they wish to have read to them, until they get wise to it, most children don't realise that, in choosing they miss the more significant fact, that they are going to bed. Similarly unless stupid a salesman will ask you which colour you prefer, which size, etcetera as a way of getting past that big question will you buy.

What really is still at stake, is whether we want to buy into the Reading based firms, plan to destroy the Dreamland theme-park for ever.

Disappointingly despite suggestions to the contrary, the developers did not place information from their consultants, about Margate or Dreamland's viability as a tourist attraction, on their website, at least that's my understanding.

What is at stake here, is the whole character of Margate itself, they appear to claim, that they are not interested in Dreamland as a theme park, what they need to prove to us, the local people is that their right.

Principle also comes into the decision making process, no one will ever forgive Thanet District Council if they allow a change of use, purely on the basis that the current owners, can make a greater profit by redeveloping the site for housing etc.

If the council roll over, as many of us expect, then presumably owners of agricultural land, could with some justification make similar claims and make millions from housing rather than farming.