Margate's former Dreamland Amusement Park will be opening its gates to the public for the first time in seven years this weekend.

The Dreamland Trust’s Chairman Nick Laister will be leading visitors into the park, to unveil plans ahead of its reopening in 2015.

The attraction has been closed since a fire destroyed its flagship attraction the Scenic Railway in 2008.

Today guests will also be given the opportunity to find out how they can help rebuild the site.

Jan Leandro, heritage and engagement manager, said: “It’s a day that the community takes Dreamland back.

"We’re inviting the community to come down to the site to have a look at the amusement park before works begins.

“This is the first time Dreamland has been empty with nothing there apart from the scenic railway waiting to be restored.

"So there will be a new generation that will be able to say to their grandchildren when Dreamland’s up and running, ‘I remember this as an empty site’ and that’s an extraordinary thing because that’s never been the case.”

She added: “It’s really important that people see the site, see the condition that the site’s in and really understand the journey that we’re about to start.”

The event today - from noon to 3pm - follows a legal challenge which resulted in Thanet District Council’s Compulsory Purchase Order, which cleared the path for its regeneration to get under way.

Jan Leandro feels it is now a time to look ahead.

She said: “We’ll be able to talk people through the next stages for Dreamland. I think there’s going to be something for everybody in the new park.”

She added: “It is about the Dreamland’s heritage, we do have the historic rides collection but it will be unique and new.

"It will be unlike any other Dreamland that anybody has known. It’s important that it’s fit for a 21 century audience.”

century audience" - Jan Leandro"It will be unlike any other Dreamland that anybody has known. It’s important that it’s fit for a 21

The Dreamland Trust recently revealed the Amusement Park will have rides including the Double Decker Rocket, Hurricane Jets and the Austin Car Ride.

A fundraising art auction will follow the meeting at the park in Dreamland’s disused cinema building.

Work has been donated from a number of high-profile figures including Tracey Emin, Vic Reeves and Anne Carrington.

All the money raised at the sold-out event will be going towards opening the Dreamland Vintage Arcade Visitor and Learning Centre next spring.