Holy roller coasters! I appear to have stirred up something of a hornets' nest over on the Save Dreamland Campaign website.Ubercampaigner Nick Laister has picked up on my recent SchemeLand post and accuses me of being 'the worst offender for misinformation' à propos the news that a number of old tut rides from some derelict amusement park oop north are being put in storage in anticipation of the 'heritage amusement park' proposal put forward by developers Waterbridge. Clearly Mr Laister is not a frequent peruser of my feeble jottings!
I will admit, however, that I got the tone of my item slightly wrong. I had intended it to be a polemic against our lacklustre local politicos, who have consistently and limply failed to implement the government inspector's report that insisted on a seaside style future for Dreamland, rather than any insinuation that the Dreamland campaigners had hopped into bed with the developers. After all, what I'm most interested in is local colour, and unfortunately neither Waterbridge nor Mr Laister are local. Waterbridge are based in Newbury, and Mr Laister appears to run the Dreamland campaign from 15 miles further up the A34 in Wantage.
16 comments:
You have an uncanny knack of getting right to the heart of the matter ECR - whether other people want to admit it or not - keep it up!
Ooh, you're egging me on now Emmeline!
Just wanted to encourage you and empathise about your er - current predicament! Nicl Laister et al might have to read a bit deeper to understand what I'm on about.
On a serious note I think even a sanctuary for knackered fairground equipment is better than yet more FLATS.
Yes, on balance. But you see that's sort of my point. Here in Thanet we're constantly being shown the light at the end of the tunnel, only to have it taken away again. They've got us to the point where now we're saying: 'Wow! What an amazing a candle'!
if the cap fits why not wear it
I'm not sure why you are on the offensive against Nick Laister. If it wasn't for this guy and his extraordinary and tireless efforts, the scenic railway would not have been listed, it would have been razed by now and the developers would have a completely flat site for development.
Quite frankly, I don't care if Nick Laister lives here or not, this man is to be applauded for flying in the face of a crap council and a property developer and actually making some progress!
Well done Nick, and thanks.
All power to his elbow! I'd be interested in his views on the new Turnip centre though.
Sorry, just to add that I think it shows that you have not researched your subject very well if you think the Save Dreamland Campaign is run from Wantage!
You seem to have overlooked Sarah Vickery, Dave Collard, Mick Twyman (all from Margate!) and thousands of other people and organisations including Margate Civic Society.
Please stick to what you do best Mr. Eastcliff, mocking people who do no good!
Stuart - I'm not against the Save Dreamland Campaign as such, and I am aware that it has grass roots support here in Thanet.
What I think is a pity is that any sense that Dreamland could be run again as a viable, modern attraction has been lost in the combined mire of Waterbridge spin and TDC impotence, and now this idea of a 'heritage theme park' from the SDC seems to be playing right into their hands.
Of course the scenic should be saved for the nation, but I would prefer to see it saved as part of something that builds on the reputation that Dreamland still (just about) has. I've lost count of the number of times I've heard of people from the South East and beyond coming down to Margate on a whim to spend the day at Dreamland, only to find, to their dismay and horror, that it's closed.
And on a personal note I don't take too kindly to being dubbed 'the worst offender for misinformation' by some geezer from Wantage.
'Poorly researched' from a local lad I'll accept!
Close the road along the front. Pedestrianise everything from the clock tower to the Arlington arcade.
Run the road along the back of Dreamland through and round the site, revitalising not only Arlington house and surrounds where the road would join up with the main road by the station but also the giant unused space at the back.
Get rid of the old rusty railway (sorry). Grass and flowerbeds everywhere. (Cheap).
Thankyou, Mark Hewins.
It won't be long before the scenic along with the rest of Dreamland is carted off piece by piece anyway. I see in today's Thanet Times the crims are stripping every bit of metal from the Dreamland site, including stainless from the roller coaster.
Although I see the source of that story is the security people Waterbridge use to guard the site, so perhaps this is yet another piece of spin designed to make us abandon hope and welcome their apartments with open arms.
And by the way full credit to Nick Laister for getting the scenic listed. That doesn't necessarily equate to it being saved, though.
No more flats!
I find it hilarious that the Save Dreamland campaign are collecting old piles of junk to bring down to Margate. The security people at Dreamland with their still illegal fencing are unable to stop local entrepeneurs pinching metal that will go to junk yards to be 'laundered'.
I had a great deal of time for Save Dreamland Campaign 15 months ago but it is quite clear they have decided to lie down with Waterbridge. Who is paying and with what for Southport's junk? Is Nick Laister's infatuation with rickety old rides just a furtherance of his own hobby or is he like Pomeroy (Director of an architects model) acquiring old rides like a 'curator' or future 'director' of Dreamland's Fairground Heritage Park? He seems to me the ideal candidate to have a future career as Waterbridge's Museum Director if he hasn't already been offered the job yet.
Post a Comment