Thanet councillors speaking at a scrutiny meeting last night (February 3) have agreed to ask Dreamland representatives from Live Nation and Sands Heritage Ltd to attend the next committee to explain the decision to no longer operate the Scenic Railway – although council CEO Colin Carmichael says the authority has no powers ‘at the moment to enforce anything.’
Bosses at Dreamland announced last month they were retiring the Grade II* listed ride which, they claim, would require some five hours of checks each day to operate.
They said: “Independent ADIPS (Amusement Device Inspection Procedures Scheme) contractors, the HSE (Health and Safety Executive), external rides consultants and the technical services team all carried out inspections and their findings were presented to Dreamland, who in turn worked in close consultation with The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England and liaised with Thanet District Council.
“Further to these discussions, it has been concluded that after 100+ years, the ride has come to the end of its current life and it is no longer able to continue to be used as an amusement park ride.”
Dreamland says it will now ‘reinvent’ the Scenic Railway, which has Sands Heritage as the listed owner on Land Registry, and has put out a call for ideas from ‘creatives.’
But councillors say the decision, issued via a press release on social media without public consultation, needs to be explained and evidence of the reports produced.
Cllr Rob Yates said there were also questions over why the original decision was made to award the park contract to Sands Heritage Ltd.
Referencing a lessons learned report drafted in 2016, he said six operator bids were made to take over the park (in a second tender exercise) and questioned why SHL, a new company set up expressly to manage the running of the Dreamland site, was chosen.
The report said the other submissions were ‘poor’ and revealed the bid by The Dreamland Trust had the second highest score on regeneration commitment, but they did not provide information on a business plan, nor on quality standards.
The 2016 report says: “The learning though from this, and experiences across the wider East Kent local government umbrella, is that fledgling companies with no track record or accounts, set up for a particular purpose, carry a greater risk than is being acknowledged through the due diligence checks.
“Sands Heritage Ltd was incorporated on 19th June 2014, and was then financed by a £2m bank loan, shareholders and loan of £800k promised from KCC.” The contract was awarded in October 2014.
The park reopened in May 2015 and by May 2016 SHL had gone into administration. It was saved by a multi-million pound investment from offshore hedgefund Arrowgrass.
In 2017 a £15million overhaul of Dreamland was announced and the park was again ‘reopened’ in May that year, By the October Dreamland exited administration. That same year Margate Estates acquired Sands Heritage Ltd (SHL) in 2017, and SHL continued to operate Dreamland. Margate Estates was the sole shareholder of SHL.
SHL bought the freehold for Dreamland in 2020/2021. At that time it was confirmed that conditions were attached to the sale to ensure that the listed heritage structures are protected and a restrictive covenant is in place to control future use of the site and retain this for leisure, in line with planning policy.
In December 2023 Sands Heritage was taken over in a majority stakehold by LN Gaiety Holdings, a subsidiary of concert and festival giant Live Nation.
Cllr Yates said: “If (Dreamland) refuse to engage, I think this committee should certainly investigate or discuss was the right delegated authority given to the council when it made the decision to award the original operating licence to Sands Heritage Limited.”
Deputy council leader Helen Whitehead said the need for checks were “not something that should determine viability,” while Cllr George Kup said he simply “did not believe the extent of the inspections” were warranted and Cllr John Davis said it “made no sense” that a ride substantially rebuilt just a decade ago would be “at the end of its life.”
Cllr Barry Manners said he hoped Live Nation and Sands Heritage could outline plans for maintenance or continued operation but also highlighted how the park ‘under Sands Heritage stewardship’ has brought huge numbers of visitors to the isle and contributed to economic activity without ongoing public subsidy.
He said all viable options for the railway’s future should be explored, including: “the potential for a body such as the Dreamland Heritage Trust to operate the ride, perhaps under a full repairing and insuring lease if the ride is economically viable.”
Cllr Wing suggested Thanet council could use planning enforcement powers because of the Grade II* listing on the Scenic Railway but Thanet council CEO Colin Carmichael said TDC had no power to “enforce anything.”
He said: “We have obviously done some work into checking the position. The advice from planning officers is that there is no planning issue involved in this.
“The Scenic Railway is a listed building but there’s no proposal to change the nature of the building and planning does not cover the operation of the Scenic Railway.
“We do not believe there are planning powers and there does not appear to be anything in the contract when the operation passed away from us that obliges the people in receipt of that to run the Scenic Railway either….We don’t believe the council has the powers at the moment to enforce anything.”
Cllr Will Scobie questioned whether asking Dreamland into a meeting when TDC possibly had no powers over their decision would, for the public: “raise false hope that we can do something about it.”
Committee chairman Phil Fellows did however raise the issue of millions of taxpayers’ money being funnelled into the site previously and added that Dreamland is designated as an amusement park in Thanet’s Local Plan, adding: “If we lose the Scenic Railway then that could be the death of the theme park aspect of that site.”
He added that the Local Plan states: “Proposals that reduce the site’s attractiveness as a leisure destination or threaten the Scenic Railway will be resisted.”
Cllr Fellows said he was “appalled” by the decision to shut down the ride and, following the meeting, added: “Hopefully we can get some answers for our concerned residents on the Scenic Railway.”
Decision for the courts?
Former Thanet council Heritage Advisor and former Dreamland Trust chairman Nick Dermott says ultimately it may be a matter that the courts will have to decide.
Nick said: “The structure was entirely rebuilt in 2014 using public money, with new safety features added.
“It has always required daily inspection. It is a ‘national treasure’ and the owners are its guardian.
“My argument is that the Scenic Railway is unique in that its special character resides in its operation not it’s fabric. Therefore closing it is damaging to its character and needs Listed Building Consent.
“I suspect that because of the unprecedented nature of this case, it is a matter which can only be decided by the Courts.”
Petition
The Dreamland Heritage Trust has launched a petition to save the Scenic Railway.
The Trust says: “The Scenic Railway matters deeply to people locally, nationally, and internationally. As the oldest roller coaster in the UK and a Grade II* listed structure of exceptional historic importance, it is heartening to see so many voices standing up for its future as part of Dreamland’s living heritage.
“The level of public interest has reinforced the importance of transparency, proper consultation, and careful consideration of all options for the Scenic Railway’s future. It has also underlined that decisions about such a significant heritage asset cannot be made behind closed doors or without meaningful engagement.
“The Dreamland Heritage Trust remains committed to constructive dialogue with all parties, including Dreamland’s operators, Thanet District Council, Historic England, and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. We will continue to press for clarity around the decision-making process and to advocate for the Scenic Railway’s significance as a working historic structure.”
Find the petition at https://www.change.org/p/protect-the-grade-ii-listed-scenic-railway-at-dreamland-margate
If live nation don’t cooperate, the council should revoke their music licence, that might make them rethink!
Cutting off our nose to spite our face, comes to mind
How many more poorly-managed concerts rife with drugs and violence do we need?
Out of all the noise being created, Will Scobie has hit the nail on the head. If there is nothing the Council can do to enforce the continuing operation of the scenic railway then what’s the point of calling them in ? The Council are powerless unless Dreamland start dismantling the ride structure.
Looks very much like pointless virtue signalling.
Yes, one of the few people talking sense.
Thanetian Blind – another example of TDC failure regarding over sight/management of our funds – what an earth is point of ‘calling in’ something if you have no power to influence? – I’ve said many times, TDC and financial matters go not go hand in hand and local councillors should be kept away from our coffers! Dreamland will run rings around these people.
why not wait until november 5th , then set it on fire ? it will be the best seafront fire show since the days of old Jim G .
Dreamland have always used thanet taxpayers as a gravy train, changing ownership when they needed more money. Now they think they can make more money as a music venue rather than an amusement park, they abandoned margate s history. Hope council enforce safety regulations more than in the past.
Why can’t we just progress as a music venue with limited fun park- as happened last year. Heritage is fine, but not when it doesn’t pay the bills!
That way it’s still proving daytime entertainment via the tides etc and music at night.
As long as it is DAYTIME, with all concerts over by 6pm.
Why? Are you not allowed out after dark?
Have Dreamland never heard of volunteers?
You’d volunteer to work for a multi-billion business ?
Volunteer for nothing the person at the top of any organisation is overpaid.
As for Dreamland it is now a lost cause.