Dreamland Amusement Park in Margate is to reopen on June 19 following a 12-year campaign to save the attraction, which is the oldest surviving amusement park in the UK.
Source: Carlos Dominguez, Dreamland, May 2015
The Dreamland Trust secured funding and managed the delivery of the project. Trust chairman Nick Laister and the organisation’s secretary, Susan Marsh, will be overseeing the opening day event.
"It is now 12 years since I first set up the Save Dreamland Campaign,” said Laister. “The reopening of the park on June 19 will be an incredible day for me and the hundreds of campaigners who have worked tirelessly to make this happen."
Laister first became involved with Dreamland in 2001 when he successfully asked the UK government to give listed building status to the Scenic Railway roller coaster.
"The idea for rebuilding Dreamland as an attraction that celebrates amusement park and seaside history and culture was something that we came up with in 2007. It seemed so right to rescue rides that were being destroyed in amusement park redevelopments, at the height of the property bubble and rebuild them alongside the Scenic Railway in a vibrant new visitor attraction at Dreamland."
He explained that a local company has been appointed to operate the park.
"The Dreamland Trust and its partner Thanet District Council have now selected a local company, Sands Heritage, which will be responsible for operating Dreamland when it reopens in a few days. Preparations are under way for the big opening event on June 19."
