Decision of Leas Lift lease

Shepway District Council has agreed to serve notice to bring its lease of the Leas Lift to an end.

The water-balance lift, which is owned by the Radnor Estate, will no longer be operated by the council.

The decision was taken by the council's Cabinet on Wednesday. Although some aspects of the report to councillors remain confidential because of commercial sensitivity, Cllr David Monk, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance, confirmed that recommendations to end the lease had been agreed.

"The decision was not taken lightly and the issue was debated at length by Cabinet. After more than an hour of discussions Cabinet agreed that we should terminate the lease and cease to operate the lift. This does not mean that Folkestone will lose the lift, it simply means that the council, which every year faces huge annual costs to keep the lift running, will not be the body responsible for its future operation and maintenance."

He said the lift cost the council £90,000 a year to operate but it brought it only £30,000.

"The number of people using the lift has dropped considerably since the Sunday market on the seafront ended. The figures show it is not financially viable to operate the lift, and year-on-year these costs are going to go up."

Cllr Monk said he acknowledged that the decision would not be a popular one with everyone.

"But why should our local council tax payers be expected to pay for the upkeep and repair of a deteriorating, privately-owned asset?"

He said a report would be prepared for full council about the financial implications of ending the lease and said he hoped that ways could be found of helping any future operator of the lift.

Cabinet's decision is subject to call-in and will not be implemented until the five-day call-in period has ended.