Plans for a £12 million theme park containing historic rides rescued from around the country are to be unveiled this weekend.
The proposed heritage centre, which would be the first of its kind in the world, would be sited at the former Dreamland in Margate and based around its listed Scenic Railway attraction.
Members of the Dreamland Trust that was set up to preserve the amusement park will reveal the plans at the West Coast Bar, King Street, from 7.30pm on Sunday.
Chairman Nick Laister said: “This will not be a collection of gentle old travelling fairground rides.
“Dreamland will recreate a large, thrilling permanent seaside amusement park of the sort that could be found around the coast of Britain throughout most of the last century but has now largely disappeared.
“It will be an authentic traditional seaside amusement park experienced in its correct location.
“We think it will be a great success and will play a transformational role in the regeneration of Margate.”
The new Dreamland would include 15 historic rides, including replicas of the Caterpillar and water chute attractions once popular at the park before the closure process began in 2003.
Plans for its regeneration have already been backed by the Prince of Wales, whose regeneration trust is providing advice to those working on the project.
A portion of the £12 million funding will be spent on repairs to the Scenic Railway, which was partially destroyed by arsonists last year and is the only listed fairground ride in the world.
Mr Laister said he believed there was a gap in the market for the sort of theme park the Dreamland Trust was proposing.
He said: “It will be completely unique.
“We’re not trying to compete with Alton Towers or Thorpe Park. We’re all about families coming to Margate and enjoying the beach, with parents and grandparents perhaps reliving their childhoods and younger people experiencing these rides for the first time.
“Dreamland is one of the most interesting parks in the country. Given the state it was in, it needed someone to come along and save it.
“We’re all very confident that what we are proposing will be a success.”
Funding for the heritage project has been provided by way of a Sea Change grant from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, with additional money from the Margate Renewal Partnership and Dreamland owners Margate Town Centre Regeneration Company.
Mr Laister said: “Thanks to the funding we have been able to appoint specialist advisors who are starting to bring our dreams to reality.
“If we can secure our next round of grant funding, work on the park could start later this year, with it opening in 2012.”
POSTED: 15/03/2009 10:00:00
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