Funding identified to restore Edwardian lift

Funding has been identified to restore an Edwardian seaside lift in Kent, a council has said.

Thanet District Council (TDC) says £120,000 has been included in its 2026-27 draft budget as part of plans to restore Ramsgate's Grade II listed East Cliff lift to working order.

The lift, built in 1910, provides a link between the upper promenade and the main sands area.

The council says the lift, located at Harbour Parade, has been "out of action" since the Covid pandemic and requires "significant works".

The lift became Grade II listed in 2007, according to Historic England.

Also known as the Harbour lift, it was the second of three lifts in Ramsgate, alongside Marina lift built in 1908 before it was demolished in 1926 and the West Cliff lift, built in 1926.

East Cliff stopped its operations in 1990s and became neglected, before being restored in 1999.

Historic England said East Cliff lift was one of the only five of this "rare type of seaside structure" still open to the public.

The council's Labour leader Rick Everitt said bringing the lift back into working order was something the administration had said it would deliver for Ramsgate.

He added that the council would have to go through a procurement process and could not confirm a timeline yet.

The latest draft budget also confirmed funding had been identified for a beach boardwalk in Ramsgate and Margate, Everitt said.

The council's cabinet will consider the revised proposals on Monday and make a recommendation to full council.

A final decision will be made at a full council meeting due to take place on 26 February.

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