Could Margate's Dreamland soon return to its brilliant best?

by Martin Jefferies

A council's bid to compulsorily purchase land on which to build the world's first heritage amusement park is "riddled with uncertainty" and a "lame duck", according to opponents of the scheme.

A two-week public inquiry into Thanet District Council's (TDC) plans to buy the Dreamland site opened in Margate yesterday.

It heard evidence from the council's barrister, Martin Edwards, who said there was a "compelling case" to make a compulsory purchase order (CPO) against the owners of the land, Margate Town Centre Regeneration Company (MTCRC).

However, Richard Glover QC, who is representing MTCRC, claimed the council does not have enough money to acquire the land and redevelop the site.

MTCRC wants to build homes on part of the site – a move which would force developers to fund improvements elsewhere.

Mr Glover said this was the only "realistic" way of securing the cash to bring the entire site back into use, although Ian Peck, a chartered surveyor, warned that "neither the residential nor the commercial components are deliverable, desirable or viable".

Mr Glover said: "TDC's ill-judged proposals represent the wasting of a piece of land that is important to the regeneration of Margate.

"One of the ironies of this case is that TDC talk of the need to regenerate, of the need for a step change to pull Margate out of the doldrums.

"The Local Plan talks of the need to attract the development industry to Margate but TDC has not only hindered my clients over the years in their attempts to bring private development but now proffer a case that tells the development industry that values in Margate will not increase."

Mr Edwards described the decision to make a CPO as a "last resort" and said it was needed because the site has been "virtually vacant and effectively unused for more than five years."

He insisted the council would "preserve and protect" Dreamland's two Grade II*-listed structures – the Scenic Railway and the cinema building – and the Grade II-listed menagerie cages.

Funding is in place from the government (£3.7m), the Heritage Lottery Fund (£3m) and TDC (£3m) to deliver the first stage of its plans, he explained. These would include the restoration of historic rides and repairs to the cinema.

Mr Edwards said: "Margate is synonymous with tourism. Dreamland is synonymous with Margate. Margate owes its very existence to tourism.

"The acquisition of the Dreamland site will provide a once in a decade opportunity for the council [to] make a major contribution to the regeneration of Margate and Thanet.

"This is a viable and deliverable proposition, building on the achievements of Turner Contemporary."

The inquiry, which is open to local residents, is being held at TDC's offices in Cecil Street, Margate. It starts at 10am and finishes at 5pm each day.

Once the inquiry has finished, the planning inspector will prepare a report for the Secretary of State, who is expected to make a final decision in May or June.