Thanet council’s deputy leader has launched a Parliamentary petition in the latest attempt to force Dreamland to make the Scenic Railway operational.
Cllr Helen Whitehead says that ‘every means possible’ must be used to require Dreamland bosses, Live Nation and Sands Heritage, to produce evidence justifying the closure of the Grade II listed ride.
The petition calls on Parliament to strengthen planning laws to require any organisation wanting to end use of a listed asset to provide valid planning reasons to the planning authority.
At a Cabinet meeting last night (April 30) Cllr Whitehead said: “If we genuinely want to bring our Scenic Railway back into use, and want the relevant information shared as to why it was closed, we will have to use every means possible to do so.
“I have set up a parliamentary petition, which is on my Helen form Thanet page and has also been shared widely across social media. This is not a partisan issue. It is a community issue, and the more attention it has, the better.
“This petition would require Dreamland and Live Nation to provide evidence to the Planning Authority to justify their closure of the Scenic Railway.
“Currently they are refusing to release any documents relating to their decision making and their reasons given for closure have changed several times, again with no evidence provided.”
Taking aim at the latest display on the Dreamland Cinema building sign, she added: “Currently the Heritage Dreamland Cinema sign states “ride on and on and on”; when the obvious question is, on what, exactly?”
The strengthened planning laws would ensure that private companies cannot close heritage listed assets such as the Scenic Railway unless the local planning authority also supports the action.
With 10,000 signatures Parliament have to answer the petition; if it reaches 100,000, it can be debated in the House of Commons.
Find the petition to Parliament by clicking here
Bosses at Dreamland announced in January that they were retiring the Grade II* listed ride which, they claim, would require some five hours of checks each day to operate.
They say they will now ‘reinvent’ the Scenic Railway, which has Sands Heritage as the listed owner on Land Registry, and have put out a call for ideas from ‘creatives.’
A document to Cabinet members says Dreamland had previously advised council officers about the likely decision during 2025 so that officers could consider any relevant planning enforcement, property or other available legal powers.
Legal advice detailing what enforcement powers Thanet council has says: “The council does not have any statutory power to compel the operation of the Scenic Railway.
“The council cannot require the owner to disclose technical, financial or commercial documents unless this forms part of a live planning or enforcement process.
“The council’s statutory responsibilities relate to the preservation of the listed structure, not its operation as a ride.”
Dreamland previously told Thanet council that: ““The collective professional advice was clear: there are significant issues within the key structural elements of the railway and after more than a century of operation, the structure has reached the end of its operational life as an amusement ride in its current configuration.”
However, despite council requests to view the technical reports these have not been provided so it is “not possible for officers to confirm the assertion made by Dreamland that the Scenic Railway is no longer viable to operate.”
The Scenic Railway was substantially rebuilt following a blaze at the structure in 2008.
Cabinet members have agreed that the council will undertake an annual inspection of the Scenic Railway and take appropriate enforcement action if necessary.
More virtue signalling. Even with the remote possibility that this will lead to a change in the law, it will be way in the future and won’t apply retrospectively so nothing will change with Dreamland and the scenic railway.
TDC just need to admit they have been totally out manouevered with this and move on.
How long before the whole place is deemed “unviable” and they apply to build housing… which even if rejected by the housing-obsessed Labour TDC, will be then approved by the housing-obsessed Labour government?
I would like to see, in writing, Helen Whitehead (or anyone else on TDC) saying that no way would they ever approve housing on the site. How about it, Helen?
The thing is Peter that this time next year all the local Labour Councillors are almost certainly going to be voted out of office. They won’t get anywhere near being in control of the new Unitary Authority. Whichever Party controls the new Council will have the final day over what happens on that site in terms of Housing. But it won’t be Councillor Whitehead and it won’t be Labour.
What a great day that’ll be!
Be careful what you wish for, Peter. You’ve still got TDC until 2028.
So TDC may well see a housing application at Dreamland yet. It will be deemed “unviable” as a fairground long before then.
Next year is the vote for the shadow unitary (and town and parishes). TDC is still in office, barring any changes to local government organisation, until 2028.
Yes but all the important strategic decision making, appointment of senior officers, budget setting responsibilities etc will be removed from TDC and given to the new shadow Unitary. TDC’s role will be reduced to keeping the lights on and casework until the new Council take over. They won’t be authorised to borrow large sums of money or award significant contracts without it being signed off by the new Council.
A welcome move by Helen, while normally I couldn’t be seen to support anything she advocates. We all need to stand together and say there are going to be long-term sequences for the owners if they don’t do the right thing regarding the theme park, ie they can forget about renewal of their music licence and there will proactive full enforcement of all restrictions already in place linked to previous approvals at every and all upcoming concerts. That will mean council officers working weekends and not just 9-5 Mon-Fri. A joined up approach will defeat this conglomerate.
TDC are merely trying to divert blame, when it is THEIR fault we’re in this mess in the first place!
A welcome move by Helen, while normally I couldn’t be seen to support anything she advocates. We all need to stand together and say there are going to be long-term consequences for the owners if they don’t do the right thing regarding the theme park, ie they can forget about renewal of their music licence and there will proactive full enforcement of all restrictions already in place linked to previous approvals at every and all upcoming concerts. That will mean council officers working weekends and not just 9-5 Mon-Fri. A joined up approach will defeat this conglomerate.
Gerard – why do you not recognise that TDC Labour led created this mess with their lack of business acumen in signing off the deal. Councillor Whitehead just trying to divert blame as usual. Must be elections coming up! Get it right first time with expert business guidance to prevent problems down the line!
The Scenic Railway is a terrible rollercoaster. Can we make it Mayor of Margate?
All very commendable, yet Cllr Whitehead has been amazingly quiet on the subject of Tudor House, which is in her ward, is owned by Thanet District Council and so has the ability to do something about one of the oldest buildings in Margate, which is visibly falling down!
The do as we say not do as we do, attitude of local councils. TDC hardly setd a good example when it comes to looking after it’s heritage assets.
Which is probably why it was never a consideration to put protective clauses on the roller coaster.
Quite at which point and which administration was responsible for setting this particular ball rolling i don’t expect we’ll ever know.
But a complete waste of money wanting to get it discussed in parliament and laws changed.
Dreamland was never goingto remain a theme park for long and one look at how it was created shows that. (The boundaries and design show it was always going to become a much smaller entertainment venue).
Council won’t really care as housing with a large social component was likely always the long term vision.
On Facebook last night:
Peter Checksfield
Remind me, which council was it that didn’t put legally binding clauses into the contract when selling Dreamland?
Helen Elizabeth Whitehead
Peter Checksfield; remind me why you persistently target me again?
Also, you may want to check the Cabinet minutes from yesterday; specifically those concerning what is and is not allowed in contract law.
Peter Checksfield
Helen Elizabeth Whitehead How is asking you a question on a facebook thread you’ve responded to “persistently targeting”?
I suggest a full public inquiry over the whole TDC/Dreamland business instead of trying to divert attention with your mock anger.
Helen Elizabeth Whitehead
(no reply)
The above is an example of just how completely out of their depth they all are (I’ll let someone else ask her about Tudor House though).
Tudor House is also a terrible rollercoaster.
Peter – typical of local Labour Councillors- refuse to accept their mistakes/lack of business acumen/ out of their depth and therefore resort to attacking individuals who ask reasonable questions of their ability.
While it’s good that a few local cllrs respond on social media, a bit of humility would be welcome. Ms. Whitehead in particularly never admits when she’s wrong.
Or, alternatively, my comment is based on your consistent behaviour towards me over a good year or so; not just one post.
And if I don’t reply, it’s because the tag hasn’t shown up.
O and S are already looking into the history of Dreamland, which has been pointed out to you, and others; we have met with linked decision makers, I have engaged with MHCLG and the House of Commons and the House of Lords and yet you continue to kick someone who is actually trying to do something; for some reason known only to yourself.
There’s a reason people end up with unresponsive Councillors who don’t engage (and then complain about it); and it’s behaviour like this thread.
Clr Whitehead – suggest you get of the kitchen if it’s to hot – as for your remark to Mr Checksfield, I find that rather in poor taste. Your Labour led TDC decisions with a complete lack of foresight has created this situation with Dreamland which should have never happened. Your current manoeuvring with petitions etc is a smoke screen to cover up your inadequacies as a Council!