Weds 27th November 2024
The WBG breakfast this week played host to the CEO of the Folkestone Leas Lift Company CIO – Floortje Hoette (“Flo”). A native of The Netherlands, Flo has recently joined the campaign by the CIO’s Board of Trusteees to re-open the iconic Leas Lift funicular railway that for more than a century transported people up and down the Leas Cliff. After a huge effort, she was delighted to inform us that work will begin on the renovation and reinvigoration of the Leas Lift in January of next year.
History of the Lift
The Lift was created in the late 19th Century to ease the burden of rail-borne visitors to Folkestone staying at hotels at the top of the Leas Cliff, allowing people to more readily access the pier and beach below. The lift was opened in 1885 and is a water-balanced funicular.
The Lift ran almost continuously for over a century after its initial opening, even having a second rail at one stage. But following its sale by the council in 2009 a decline set in, with volunteers struggling to keep it going, and finally having to close the doors in 2017 due to a lack of funds to address health and safety concerns.
The Community Interest Organisation (CIO) formed in 2022 has worked tirelessly to raise funds to re-invigorate the lift, with a plan to transform it into a tourist attraction for visitors and useful service for residents. The project has raised £6.6m via a number of supporters and will not only repair the lift but also add accessibility features and a brand new building housing a café.
With the project starting in January the hope is that the Lift will be a new and popular attraction in Folkestone. It is planned to be fully financially independent so it does not have to rely on council support.