Dreamland to be rejuvenated

Video. One of the South East's oldest amusement parks is to get a new lease of life. Much of Dreamland in Margate burnt down five years ago. Since then, the former funfair has been the site of the a bitter fight between developers and the local council.

Today, that battle ended when Thanet Council won the backing of three of the country's top judges to acquire the site. They hope their ownership will rejuvenate the resort, drawing thousands of day-trippers and holiday-makers, just like Dreamland used to do. Sarah Saunders reports.

Thanet District Council plan to spend £10.3 million to rejuvenate the former Dreamland funfair.

The plans include spending £2.2 million on restoring the Scenic Railway roller coaster.

Another £1.7 million will be spent on other new rides.

It claims that the new heritage theme park will draw in 350,000 visitors a year and will create 14 full time jobs and 32 part time and seasonal jobs.

A £3.7 million government grant will also help with the restoration.

Lord Justice Elias decision on turning Dreamland into a new £10m heritage theme park.

The Dreamland Amusement Park in Margate is to get a new life.

Thanet District Council's compulsory purchase of the former park to turn it into a £10m heritage theme park won the backing of three of the country's top judges.

They hope it will rejuvenate the seaside town and hope to draw hundreds of thousands of day-trippers and holiday makers to the Kent resort each year, just like Dreamland used to.

Giving the main ruling, Lord Justice Elias backed the CPO.

The former owners of the site, DreamlandLive, who were formerly known as Margate Town Regeneration Company, had asked the court to quash the CPO, which would have potentially revived their own plans for the site.

Plans to turn Kent's famous derelict seaside funfair, Dreamland, into a heritage theme park have won the go-ahead from the Court of Appeal.

More follows....

After months of wrangling, the redevelopment of Margate's historic Dreamland site could finally get the go-ahead today as the High Court announces its decision about an appeal by the former owners, Margate Town Centre Management company against a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO)

The High Court is expected make a decision today on an appeal by the previous owners of the former Dreamland amusement park in Margate.

The former owners have appealed against Thanet Council's compulsory purchase order of the site.