The leader of the Save Dreamland Campaign says that he is certain that Margate’s fire-damaged Scenic Railway roller coaster can be restored. Nick Laister says: “It is now over 48 hours since the sad events of Monday afternoon and we have a much better picture of the extent of the damage and the prospects for repair. I have spent the last couple of days contacting as many people in the amusement park industry as possible to satisfy myself that the skills and expertise are available to repair the Scenic Railway. Several people who know the Scenic Railway well, and who have maintained the ride over the years, have told me that repairing the structure will not be a major task. They are also willing and able to get involved with the restoration. In addition, companies which are specialists at reconstructing and replicating wooden roller coasters in the UK and overseas have confirmed that, given the extent of damage, plans can be drawn up and the ride rebuilt. I have forwarded these details to Dreamland’s owners. With all this local knowledge, the expertise of wooden coaster specialists and the hundreds of photographs of the ride, I am now convinced that a rebuild is possible and achievable.”
About 25% of the footprint of the Grade II listed roller coaster – the oldest in the UK – was destroyed by fire on Monday. Police have announced that the fire was started deliberately and investigations are continuing.
Representatives from English Heritage today visited the Dreamland site to assess the damage to the Scenic Railway.
"Based on our visit today, the damage is not as significant as was first presented to us," said Peter Kendall, English Heritage Team Leader for Kent and East Sussex. "We are categorically of the view that the ride is repairable. We will work with everyone else to achieve that end."
The blaze has resulted in hundreds of people signing up to the Save Dreamland Campaign. Nick Laister says: “I can’t remember any time since we started the Campaign in January 2003 when there has been such an influx of new members. Our online Forum is busier than it has ever been. I am genuinely heartened by the huge response from the people of Margate - and from around the country - who have all expressed their outrage that this much-loved listed building could have been damaged in this way. I am pleased that Dreamland's owners, the Margate Town Centre Regeneration Company Ltd, have acted swiftly in getting people onto the site to assess the damage, and I have personally told the Company Chairman, Toby Hunter, that we will do everything we can to help him with the task of restoring the ride."
Nick adds: "For the time being the most important thing is to stop this from becoming another Brighton West Pier, with a series of further arson attacks. Security at the site must be stepped up immediately to protect this now extremely vulnerable listed building."
Thanet District Council has already called for security at Dreamland to be stepped up following the arson attack. Council Leader, Sandy Ezekiel, who called the ride "the single most important piece of the town’s cultural heritage", has said that the Council expects the owners to rebuild the structure as soon as possible.
Tobi - Wir haben die Schönere...Verbindung!
ThemenParX.de - Updated: Neuheiten 2008
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