Calls to rebuild the Scenic Railway
Margate’s historic Scenic Railway can be rebuilt and everything
should be done to ensure that happens.
That’s the message from Thanet District Council, after fire
broke out in the Grade II listed structure yesterday afternoon
(Monday 7 April) for the third time in its history. The Scenic
Railway, which is in the famous Dreamland amusement park site on
the town’s seafront, was the first amusement park ride to be listed
in the country.
The Dreamland site and the Scenic Railway is privately owned and
the responsibility for rebuilding the ride lies with the
owners.
Planning guidance, developed by the council, working with other
organisations including the Margate Renewal Partnership and the
Save Dreamland Campaign, sets out that the Scenic Railway should be
kept as part of an amusement based destination. This was given
strong support by local people, with 92% who took part in the
consultation saying that the Scenic Railway should be kept.
Council Leader, Cllr. Sandy Ezekiel, said: “The fire is a
terrible blow for Margate. Many local people hold the Scenic
Railway very dearly in their hearts, as our recent consultation
showed, and understandably so. It’s perhaps the single most
important piece of the town’s cultural heritage and has been a part
of Margate for generations. We are determined that, if possible,
the Scenic Railway, should be rebuilt as soon as possible and we
would expect the owners to do just that. It’s a listed structure
and the expectation is that, wherever possible, a listed structure
should be rebuilt. Let’s not forget that in the history of the
Scenic Railway, it’s been the victim of fire twice before and on
both occasions, it’s been re-built. We are hopeful that can happen
again this time.
“Our conservation and planning officers have a wealth of
technical expertise that can be called upon by the owner if they
require it and we would be happy to offer them help and advice. In
the first instance, we are calling on the owners of the site to
take urgent action to ensure that security at the site is stepped
up, in view of what’s happened. I’m sure that local people would
agree that it’s vital that this is done to safeguard what is left
of the Scenic Railway today.”
ENDS