THERE is a feeling of hope around Margate's much-loved Dreamland fun park.

It stands on the verge of reopening in 2013, ready to welcome back visitors for the first time since it was shutdown in 2004.

For many it is more than a fun park, it is a symbol of everything that made Margate the country's number one seaside resort whether as Dreamland, Bembom Brothers or farther back.

Its circumstances and future seem inexorably linked to the fortunes of the town in the minds of residents.

Today's optimism is in stark contrast to seven years ago when pretty much all that stood between Dreamland being "redeveloped" under a proposed Margate Master Plan was a small but determined group called simply Save Dreamland.

It was this group which led a vigorous campaign to retain a fun park at the heart of Margate. It was this group which raised concerns about Thanet council's master plan, part of a district-wide review of planning policy which took place in 2004.

The council's consultants envisaged the fun park's future in "commercial leisure use" – a hotel, shops and sports facilities.

Thanet council's proposed change of policy on Dreamland was justified by the claim that a fun park was "no longer viable".

It was Save Dreamland's Susan Marsh who on June 29, 2004 gave evidence at a public inquiry, fighting to save the fun park.

The then campaign leader Nick Laister said: "This inquiry is of critical importance to Margate as it could well decide the fate of Dreamland. Until January 2003, Thanet District Council was committed to retaining Dreamland... If we can get the policy changed to how it was before January last year, then Dreamland can almost certainly be saved."

His optimism was well-placed.

In 2005, the inspector ruled that Dreamland "must remain an amusement park", totally transforming the site's future.

The inspector ruled that Thanet council's proposed policy was damaging to the site's future. He stated that it "maximises speculative interest in the site and encourages hope values beyond any ordinary expectation", and that "dereliction would be the most likely outcome".

Save Dreamland had already brought forward plans for the world's first vintage theme park with a rebuilt Scenic Railway at its core.

The inspector's view lent weight to these plans and now Thanet council and Save Dreamland, now the Dreamland Trust, are working firmly together to reopen the site.

For some time the site's owners were also partners in the plans which would have seen a housing development on part of the site and fun park on the remainder.

It is this proposal that has been at the centre of much of the delay.

This impasse is now being worked around by Thanet council issuing a Compulsory Purchase Order for the entire site.

It had already issued Urgent Works notices covering the remains of the Scenic Railway and the cinema after it was feared that the long delays threatened the very fabric of these listed structures.

The site's owners are opposing the Compulsory Purchase Order and although the £3 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has been secured, it is dependent on an inspector agreeing that the compulsory purchase can go ahead.

What value will be put on the site and what Thanet council may have to pay the owners is yet another battle to come.

But, that funding to complete the restoration of the seafront centrepiece has been agreed, is likely to strengthen the case that the site has a viable future.

Speaking about this week's HLF news, Nick Laister, now chairman of the Dreamland Trust, said: "It was fantastic to hear. The HLF panel asked some difficult questions and the fund is oversubscribed so to get the grant is great news. The urgent works are advanced now so it may even be possible to begin work on the Scenic Railway ahead of schedule.

"The Compulsory Purchase Order is the major obstacle to overcome to allow the park to open in 2013.

"We have a detailed programme for the works and a conservative business plan in place so we are confident of completing Phase One."

The trust's plans were based on in-depth research of the amusement park industry and specifically four seaside attractions in Southend, Blackpool, Great Yarmouth and Littlehampton.

It commissioned two studies: the first forecast 750,000 annual visitors with 350,000 tickets sold and a second, more conservative, report predicting 350,000 entries and 200,000 sales.

The business plan is based upon free entry to the park and a recession-proof £12 daily pass to enjoy the rides.

Rare vintage rides have been purchased from theme parks across the country and the conservative 350,000 visitors are some way short of the 2 million visitors during Dreamland's heyday and the 1.4 million welcomed to Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach last year.

Managing director at Harbour Park in Littlehampton, Gary Smart said: "Business isn't booming but if Dreamland are conservative and not too ambitious to start with, they can do well."

Thanet council leader Bob Bayford reiterated the council's commitment to the project by providing £4 million to the Trust and earmarking Government grants to fund its redevelopment.

Mr Bayford said: "It's the biggest investment the council has made in a long time but it really is an iconic site, although that term get used quite loosely.

"If it gets near the estimated visitor numbers, it will be fantastic for Margate.

"It's down to the Dreamland Trust to run the attraction but their projections are reasonably conservative.

"Let's the hope the predictions can be achieved and the compulsory purchase order next year is the final piece in the jigsaw."

Thanet Labour leader Clive Hart welcomed the announcement. He said: "The Dreamland site has stood empty for far too long and as someone born, bred and living in the area concerned, I know only too well how the closure of Dreamland has blighted the town since 2004."

With phase one, which includes landscaping of the site to create "pleasure gardens", due to complete in summer 2013, the trust will then focus on finding investment for the listed cinema.

Urgent works carried out this autumn have strengthened the structure and protected the interior from the elements after replacing the rundown roof.

This month, scaffolding on the cinema will slowly be removed to reveal the iconic Dreamland illuminated letters and the trust is hopeful doubters will finally believe this is not another false dawn for the jewel in Margate's crown as Britain's original seaside resort.