Dreamland bosses say the park is not to blame for the death of a 17-year-old girl who collapsed at the venue after a suspected MDMA overdose.

Emily Stokes fell seriously ill and died after being captured on CCTV at the Margate attraction swallowing what is believed to have been an ecstasy pill.

She was one of 22 teenagers - aged between 15 and 18 - taken to hospital after falling ill during a drum ‘n’ bass festival on June 29.

All are understood to have been suffering the effects of drug intoxication, with one remaining in an induced coma last week.

Sands Heritage Ltd (SHL) - which owns Dreamland - has blamed “the scourge of unlawful drugs in society”, adding it is fair to assume a “seriously harmful batch was in circulation in Margate or further afield on the day of the event”.

It has also defended the security it had in place on the day of the tragedy in response to police calls for its events licence to be reviewed.

In documents submitted to Thanet District Council, which will examine the case today, it says: “This review has arisen because of a tragic event which arose, not through the fault of SHL, but because of the scourge of unlawful drugs in society.

“SHL takes, and will continue to take, such measures as it can to keep its customers safe, and has proposed a series of further measures to formalise existing processes and to strengthen partnership working.”

The report states that detailed talks had been held between SHL, the police and TDC five days before the Worried About Henry festival, which was attended by more than 7,000 people - 342 of them under 18.

“In particular, there was a detailed discussion about concerns over the supply and use of synthetic drugs by persons attending the event,” SHL says.

“There was no suggestion at this meeting that the event should not go ahead, and the police and Thanet District Council licensing were satisfied with the responses from Dreamland on the control measures being adopted.”

Park bosses say there were 49 security staff and stewards working the event, alongside drug-detection dogs and general patrol dogs.

They add detailed searches took place upon entry, including “full pat downs and bag searches”.

SHL says in the report: “Following the tragic incident of 29th June, Dreamland fully assisted Kent Police throughout their investigation and 13 separate CCTV and BWV files including a log were provided to the investigation team.

“This included footage showing Emily removing a bag of what appeared to be drug pills concealed in her bra and swallowing a pill and handing drugs to two of her friends.

“She was found in an intoxicated state, and told medical staff that she had also taken a pill before entering the site.

“She was transported to hospital, but sadly died.

“As the licensing committee knows, a large number of people were taken to hospital with drug intoxication.

“It is not known whether all were intoxicated with the same substances or where the supplies took place.

“It is a fair inference that a seriously harmful batch was in circulation in Margate or further afield on the day of the event.”

Emily’s death at the QEQM Hospital sparked emergency talks on the night about whether to pull the plug on the event and cordon the area off as a crime scene.

But police say they allowed the gig to continue to avoid a “large-scale public order incident” and to help identify and support any further casualties.

“This was a challenging decision but allowed mitigating factors to be implemented to minimise the risk towards already vulnerable children at the event,” they wrote.

Seven people were arrested on suspicion of drug supply offences over the course of the festival and into the following morning, with five bailed and two released without charge.

Following the event, Kent Police called for a review of Dreamland’s licence, with TDC agreeing to impose interim measures on the park.

These included the cancellation of all upcoming drum ‘n’ bass gigs, and under-18s having to be accompanied to events by someone aged 25 or older.

A music event called Foreverland - billed as a “multi-sensory rave experience” - was due to be held at the park on Saturday but has also been axed.

Dreamland has since produced its own list of conditions to present to today’s meeting of TDC’s licensing sub-committee.

It says it will create a formal Safety Advisory Group that will meet monthly to discuss upcoming events, and introduce fresh measures regarding drugs, age verification, security and stewarding, medical facilities and noise.

It will increase the use of detection dogs at events deemed most at risk of drug use, with no under-18s admitted on such occasions.

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SHL says it is “entirely fair” for Kent Police to have called for the review following Emily’s death “to satisfy itself that appropriate and proportionate measures are being taken to avoid similar incidents in the future”.

“None of the authorities has suggested the more draconian remedies available to licensing authorities. Respectfully, there would be no rational basis to do so,” it adds.

“It is hoped the sub-committee will view these conditions as fair, balanced and proportionate.”

Councillors will discuss the representations made at this afternoon’s meeting before making a decision.

They have the power to revoke Dreamland’s licence, but Kent Police says it is not seeking this measure, adding “in general the premises has been well run and well suited to what we would deem to be lower risk events”.