'Our village will miss demolished Ghost Train'

The outside of the ghost train at Dymchurch Amusement ParkImage source, Day of Syn/Facebook
Image caption,

Park director Mark Woolls said they could not get parts for the ride

  • Published

A decades-old fairground attraction removed by its owner will be much missed, according to past visitors.

Dymchurch Amusement Park said it demolished its Ghost Train as it was "no longer able to meet the required levels of health and safety needed with it being such an old ride".

Park director Mark Woolls said "you couldn't get any parts" for the ride and they "couldn't keep it going".

Residents of Dymchurch told the BBC the ride was part of the Kent village's heritage and they had fond memories of the attraction as children.

"It was a scary ghost train when I was a kid," said village resident Lee Ross.

"We used to love coming down here from London and eventually we ended up moving down here cause it's just a lovely place."

The ghost train at Dymchurch Amusement ParkImage source, Day of Syn/Facebook
Image caption,

The ghost train at Dymchurch Amusement Park apparently no longer meets health and safety requirements

Vicki Anderson, also from Dymchurch, said it was "very scary and lovely going on it" with her family, and that they had had "great times on it".

Robin Barry, from Dymchurch, said: "All my children and grandchildren have been on the ghost train and now it's gone.

"We'll miss it and I hope they can let us have some of the signs, as it'd be a shame to go on the scrap heap."

A yellow construction vehicle with a grabber arm on a muddy plot of land. It is next to a large pile of scrap metal, where part of a sign reading Dymchurch Amusement Park can be seen.Image source, Phil Harrison/BBC
Image caption,

The park has now demolished the ride

Paul Jones said the ride was part of "Dymchurch's heritage" and holidaymakers would also miss the attraction.

Dannii Woodward, from New Romney, told the BBC she was "heartbroken" by the news.

She said: "Going and seeing my friends, going to the amusements and going on the ghost train - that's just memories for me when I was a kid, and now it's gone."

A man in a grey hoodie and a woman in a green top and black jacket, stood next to each other on a pavement. The road and some houses can be seen behind them.Image source, Phil Harrison/BBC
Image caption,

Lee Ross and Vicki Anderson from Dymchurch said they had good memories of the ride

Mr Woolls said: "We're looking forward to the future now and are excited about revealing our new family ride, which will go where the ghost train stood."

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