Council makes multi-million pound pledge to future of Dreamland
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by Martin Jefferies
mjefferies@thekmgroup.co.uk
Thanet council is to risk up to £4 million in plans to build the
world’s first heritage amusement park, after councillors agreed the
dangers of not investing were ever greater.
The authority will plough £2.2 million into the redevleopment of
Dreamland, with the option of borrowing a further £1.8 million if
alternative funding cannot be found.
Newly-appointed council leader Cllr Bob Bayford said there were
a “number of risks associated with the venture” but said the plans
were a “once in a lifetime opportunity” to breathe new life into
Margate seafront.
It is hoped the exciting new attraction, which will feature a
host of historic rides, many of which are the last surviving
examples of their kind, could attract up to 700,000 visitors a
year.
Cllr Bayford said: “The residents of Thanet would never forgive
us if we didn’t at least give this project a try.”
His comments were echoed by Cllr Clive Hart, the leader of the
opposition, who said: “It’s far from ideal and I have grave
concerns about the financial implications for the council and the
deadlines for the project.
“But local people are desperate for something to happen on the
Dreamland site and we have to keep our fingers crossed that these
plans will succeed.”
The most vocal opposition to the plans came from Cllr David
Green, the Mayor of Ramsgate, who questioned the viability of the
theme park and its implication on other building projects,
including a new swimming pool in Ramsgate.
Councillors were warned that an emergency budget, due to be
announced by the new Conservative administration within weeks,
could affect the £3.8 million grant awarded last November by Labour
under the Sea Change programme.
The Tories have pledged to make savings of £6 billion this year,
although Richard Samuel, chief executive of Thanet council, said he
was confident that funding committments that have already been made
would be unaffected.
It is hoped that building work at Dreamland could start later
this year, with the amusement park opening in time for 2012 summer
season.
Funding for the £12 million project is coming from the
government’s Sea Change programme and the Heritage Lottery Fund,
with campaigners hoping to secure money from English Heritage, Arts
Council England, SEEDA and Thanet Works.
The leader of Thanet council or his nominee will sit on the
Dreamland project board, councillors decided at an extraordinary
general meeting last Thursday evening (May 13).
Previously, only the chief executive had represented the local
authority at meetings.
Friday, May 14 2010
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