News

The Trotman family from Yorkshire got more than they bargained for when they stepped off the Leas Lift on Friday.

They were met by lift manager Eamonn Rooney, who told them that their party included the 15,000th passenger since the lift reopened for service at the end of July.

By the end of the Bank Holiday Weekend, the total number carried had exceeded all expectations and was well above the seasonal average – confirming the important part the lift plays in the life of Folkestone and how much it had been missed whilst it was shut.

Eamonn Rooney with the Trotman Family

Terry Begent one of the directors of the new company running the lift said: "The re-opening would not have been possible without the refurbishment work done by the Folkestone Estate, the financial support given by the Roger De Haan Charitable Trust, KCC Councillor Roland Tolputt and Folkestone Council. But it will be the ongoing support from our passengers and the community at large that will ensure that the lift makes it through the lean winter months until the tourists return next summer.

"Without the generous support from the people above, we would have started with empty coffers because the non-profit-making, community interest company that we formed to run the lift didn’t get started until the end of May.

"There has been some confusion expressed by our passengers about the money that they have given to a number of other fund-raising campaigns that have been collecting money for the lift in town."

Mr Begent explained: "This would be a good time to clarify that none of these have been involved in the restoration of the lift service itself. The campaign to restore the stepped carriage, for example, is a totally separate project that has nothing to do with the lift that we now operate.

"The lift welcomes donations and has arrangements in place for people to make regular payments, but the easiest way to ensure that your money goes where you want it to is to simply turn up and take a ride."

The Lift  is open 6 days a week: Tuesday to Sunday 10.00am-5.30pm