Dreamland heritage plans unveiled

Plans for what is being billed as the world's first heritage amusement park are being unveiled in Kent.

Vintage rides salvaged from Blackpool and Southport are already in storage ready to be rebuilt at the former Dreamland park on Margate seafront.

The £12m heritage amusement park will be built around the Grade II listed Scenic Railway, the oldest rollercoaster in the UK.

The plans are being shown to the public for the first time on Sunday.

About 40% of the Scenic Railway was destroyed in an arson attack last year but experts have said the structure can be repaired.

The Dreamland Trust, which runs the Save Dreamland Campaign, has worked with Thanet District Council and the site's owners, the Margate Town Centre Regeneration Company, on the plans.

Feasibility studies

"We have had meetings with the Heritage Lottery Fund and they have been really positive," said spokeswoman Sarah Vickery.

"These aren't some plans that we scribbled up on the back of a fag packet.

"We have spent months and months putting them together."

Margate has already been given a £30,000 government grant under the Sea Change scheme towards the heritage park.

The Prince's Regeneration Trust and Locum Consulting have carried out the feasibility work.

The free exhibition starts at 1930 GMT at the West Coast Bar in King Street, Margate.

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Save Dreamland Campaign
Thanet District Council
Margate Town Centre Regeneration Company
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