Compulsory purchase order for Dreamland
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Tough
measures have been taken to secure the future of the Dreamland fun
park project, which is widely regarded as essential
to the regeneration of Margate.
Thanet council cabinet has invoked
compulsory purchase proceedings against landowners Margate Town
Centre Regeneration Company.
Council chief executive Richard
Samuel said: "We are determined to continue the regeneration of
Margate, which has already seen an enormous boost with the opening
of Turner Contemporary, with the project to open a world first at
Dreamland.
"Because of the importance of this
site to the town’s future, we need to take action to ensure that
the heritage amusement park goes ahead.
"Huge amounts of money have already
been invested to bring this project to fruition and we can wait no
longer for agreement from the landowners.
"This is not something we wanted to
do, but the failure of the owners to reach a sensible agreement has
left us with no choice but to take compulsory purchase action."
The council says it agreed in
May last year that it would start compulsory purchase
proceedings on the site, if terms were not agreed for the transfer
of the freehold of the cinema building and land.
At the time, this had been agreed
in principle by the landowners. The land would then be given by the
council to the Dreamland Trust on a long lease for a peppercorn
rent.
Since then, the council has held
detailed negotiations with the landowners, but it has not been
possible to agree an acceptable position to the council.
Nick Laister, chair of the
Dreamland Trust, said: "The Dreamland Trust is delighted that
Thanet council has shown its strong commitment to the Dreamland
Margate project and is proceeding with the compulsory purchase of
the Dreamland amusement park site."
The new Dreamland will be the
world’s first amusement park of thrilling historic rides with
classic sideshows, vintage cafes, restaurants, special events and
gardens.
Tuesday, May 03 2011
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