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World's first vintage theme park

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Catherine Deshayes

Margate on the Kent coast is in dire need of a makeover - and it may be about to get one to the tune of £3.7 million as plans are afoot to turn its tired old Dreamland into the world's first vintage theme park...

A rather faded Great British seaside resort, Margate sits dispiritedly on the Kent bed and breakfast belt. My sole memory of the town's archaic and outdated Dreamland is whiplash on the aged dodgems in 1995 - an experience not to be repeated anytime soon.

So, news that the town has secured a whopping £3.7 million in Government funding - from the Sea Change fund, an organisation which helps to rejuvenate seaside towns - is a shot in the arm it desperately needs.

Dreamland, Margate's old theme park, closed in 2003, but is now to be reopened and transformed into the world's first vintage amusement park, boasting rides salvaged from other parks around the world.

The park already features the UK's oldest surviving wooden rollercoaster, and fourth oldest in the world.

The Dreamland attraction originally opened in 1920, drawing thousands of visitors to the seaside resort, but had most of its major rides dismantled in the 1990s before its closure. There has been much interest from locals who have campaigned to save Dreamland and this funding will come as a huge boost to their campaign.

Ros Kerslake, Chief Executive of the Prince's Regeneration Trust, said, "We are thrilled to be part of the team responsible for regenerating Dreamland and contributing to the rejuvenation of the world famous seaside town of Margate.

"Sea Change funding will be a massive boost for the scheme and will help us in our aim to develop an exciting area of fun and historical importance that can be enjoyed by the community, as well as serve as a huge stimulus to the local economy by boosting tourism and creating jobs."

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