It only takes five minutes for us to walk along the seafront from the Turner Contemporary, past the arcades, bars and fast food shops of the seafront to Dreamland – once the heart of a holiday in Margate.  But what a scene of desolation greets us.  The whole place lies empty.  The Scenic Railway – the oldest surviving rollercoaster in Britain – is fire damaged but still standing.  The cinema is shrouded in scaffolding during essential works to protect the listed building.  The only real sign of hope is the hoardings on the seafront which proclaim “Dreams Can Come True” and “Building Dreamland for You”.

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