The Dreamland fire- article in Private Eye.

Here's an article which appears in the current Private Eye. I think it is
fairly say there is some heavy insinuation going on here




"UNLUCKY JIM


There was an air of inevitability about the fire which last week destroyed
much of Margate's Scenic Railway, a grade II-listed wooden rollercoaster,
once the centrepiece of Dreamland, a classic seaside amusement park which
closed after 80 years in 2003.

The closure left 20 acres of seafront real estate practically deserted and
ripe for development by its owner, Jimmy Godden. But the listed
rollercoaster was in the middle of the site, and an independent government
inspector's report in 2005 went against the supine local council and
reiterated protection for it and the amusement park.

That year Godden formed the Margate Town Centre Regeneration Company with
Reading-based developers Waterbridge, retaining a major stake in Dreamland.

A public "consultation" by Thanet council two years later tried yet again to
float the idea of a development, coming up with an unhappy 50-50 compromise
of "heritage amusement park" and the usual flats and shops.

This is not the first time Godden has experienced misfortune with his
seafront developments. In 1998 his Pleasurama fun park in Ramsgate burned
down in the midst of a campaign to save it from redevelopment. Fortunately
on that occasion Godden had the comfort of a substantial insurance payout to
soften the blow. In 2003 his Mr G arcade on Margate seafront went up in
flames, but again there was consolation in that the hole it left, nicknamed
"Godden's Gap" by locals, provided the perfect access road from the seafront
into the Dreamland site.

When English Heritage listed the rollercoaster in 2002 Godden described it
as "great news" and told the BBC it was "safe in his hands". A year later he
closed Dreamland, and now more than a quarter of this historic ride lies in
ashes.

Inspector Knacker is treating the case as arson."

--
Regards, Vince.

Snowdonia trucking POV- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_qusgJlk3M




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Relevant Pages

  • Re: The Dreamland fire- article in Private Eye.
    ... There was an air of inevitability about the fire which last week destroyed much of Margate's Scenic Railway, a grade II-listed wooden rollercoaster, once the centrepiece of Dreamland, a classic seaside amusement park which closed after 80 years in 2003. ... The closure left 20 acres of seafront real estate practically deserted and ripe for development by its owner, ...
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