By Local Democracy Reporter Daniel Esson
A decision on the future of Walpole Bay’s historic ‘Cliff Lift’ is due to be made as part of a wider plan to revamp the beach area.
Walpole Bay is set for a £1.8 million makeover including a new café as part of the Margate Town Deal – a £22.2m project, for which money was awarded in 2021.
A key part of this is the restoration of the “Cliff Lift” from Queen’s Promenade at the top of the cliffs down to the beach.
In papers formally proposing the works to Walpole Bay late last year, the council wrote: “Without access to a working lift, some people are limited to exploring the clifftop.
“The plan is that the running of the lift and maintenance will be supported through new commercial opportunities within the beach facilities at the bay.”
The Grade II-listed art deco lift was originally built by the Ministry of Health in 1934 to encourage people to use the beach.
But the ailing installation has been closed and left to wrack and ruin for about six years, Thanet District Council’s (TDC) documents say.
Next Wednesday (October 16), TDC’s planning committee is recommended to give permission to allow the renovation works to begin.
The carriage and handrails would be replaced and the top entrance will be refurbished to “enable the reopening of the lift,” plans from the council say.
A new light is also to be installed at the sea level, near the Walpole Bay tidal pool.
Cllr Alan Currie (Lab), who represents the area, said: “I’m really happy about the restoration. The vast majority of residents are really happy with the whole project. It’s a real positive project for the area to get so much funding.”
The interior of the lift car has been graffitied. TDC wrote: “From recent photographic evidence showing the dilapidated state of the lift car and building interior, it is clear that the lift car, hydraulics and lift car doors and lighting were not original to the building, and dating to 1994.
“It is also clear that they have suffered from water ingress and condensation which has corroded the operating system and doors, and therefore could not be safely returned to operational use without the proposed works being undertaken.”
The council adds the lift car itself, hydraulics and mechanisms are actually all from about 2000 meaning “the historic car and features have long since been lost” though the refurb is intended to be true to the original art deco style.
The lift also needs safety upgrades, such as brighter internal lighting, emergency lights and an emergency call cable.
Cllr Currie added: “The Walpole Bay tidal pool has become really popular in that area over the last three or four years, more families are using it and that’s why we’re so pleased to have the facility block down there with the toilets and changing rooms and so on.”
A separate planning application will propose a pavilion and café at the beach level, hosting facilities including changing rooms, outdoor showers, lockers, store rooms, toilets and a bookable “wellbeing space”.
A TDC spokesperson said: “Funding is currently allocated for the Access Walpole projects.
“This includes improvements to the tidal pool itself, improvements to the steps between the upper and lower promenade, refurbishment of the Grade II-listed cliff lift, and any other access improvements at the bay.
“We’ll share a progress update on the project on the council website and with residents signed up to our Town Deal mailing list, shortly.”
Margate before Ramsgate?
Even our levelling up money as far as I understand is being directed to Ramsgate Port on behalf of peppercorn seabed aggregate stealers, Brett’s, to prop up controversial housing developments and subsidizing National Grid PLC to destroy Minster Marshes which has been a SSSI protected habitat for years. Heritage restoration to the Harbour, the Ice House, the Edwardian lift amongst others appear to have suffered.
Please tell me if these points are wrong.
Makes a change. When T.D C. Was formed, everything went in Margates favour. Ramsgate, Broadstairs and the other towns and villages were left without anything, apart from the bills.
You see what you see through your own anti-TDC lens.
Don’t know where you fit Levelling Up funding being spent to help destroy Minster Marshes into that lens. Or how to fit propping up housing developments into that lens.
The Cliftonville lift is part of the Margate Town Deal. The Ramsgate lift was never part of the Levelling Up bids. Different funding bids. Probably even different criteria. Different towns. Different needs. Right or wrong? Back to the lens.
This is such a waste of money. There is a ramp down at Hodges Gap not a hundred yards away. I guarantee this will be vandalised and out of use within a year
If there’s a ramp, what is the point of repairing the lift?
Because not everyone can cope with walking such a long way. My mother can’t, yet she’s not “disabled” as such (just old).
My sentiments exactly. And I spoke strongly against this project when they had a consultation at the Walpole Bay Hotel.
We need all 4 Thanet lifts open: Walpole, Broadstairs and Ramsgate x2.
we could do with all lifts being refurbished and sorted for use I myself can’t walk very far and lifts would benefit myself and others in my circumstances
Exactly. Everyone commenting (myself included) might be grateful of these lifts one day.
Indeed Peter
Why was my reply to Rees – stating why many infirm but non-disabled people like my mother can’t use ramps and need lifts – deleted??? It was perfectly civil. I even wished her a good weekend.
Most strange!
Please stop responding to each other,both of you, it’s tiresome to have to act like a playground monitor.
My reply was in answer to her comment, and both polite and civil. It was her response that was off-hand.
I’m not going to avoid replying to people because they don’t like me. If so, can I send you a list of people on here that I don’t want to reply to me? I can think of at least 5 of ’em.
The problem is that Mr Checksfield’s intentions, according to a recent post by him, are to wind up “woke” people voicing their opinions on here.
He specifically mentioned Ms Rees, Andrew, George Noaks and me.
No matter how polite, a wind up is a wind up. And there’s no other way to describe some of the language he’s used against Ms Rees in particular other than “vile”.
Indeed, Ms Bailes, sadly the “Opinion” section of the IoTN has become like a school playground, when it should be where people can make thoughtful comments about local issues, without becoming a target for Mr Checksfield’s “windups”.
I don’t want Phyllis replying to my comments. Please remove them.
I hoped this all had gone away and I can see no change there sadly!
Kathy Bailes-Was my comment more “off-hand”- whatever that’s supposed to mean- than Peter Checksfield’s unforgettably insulting one where he called me a “Welsh whore”?I’m getting tired of reading his sarcastic comments, which often mention Wales and the Welsh. Polite and civil? I don’t think so.
Englishwoman.