Folkestone residents are set to benefit from discounted tickets when the iconic Leas Lift reopens.
Bosses are unable to confirm exact prices at this stage but say they are “working very hard” to ensure they are affordable.
The Grade II-listed structure has been closed for the past eight years but will finally welcome customers back next spring.
Floortje Hoette, chief executive of the Folkestone Leas Lift Company, told KentOnline: “The plan is becoming clearer and clearer.
“There will be something akin to seasonal tickets – there will be a differentiation in prices.
“We hope to achieve a discounted price for local residents.”
She says while they need to raise income to keep the historic lift going, they want to keep ticket costs low.
Ms Hoette added: “We’re trying our best to come up with a solution that works for everyone, to make it a very low threshold to use, because the community will use it throughout the year and we want to make sure they do and that they feel it’s theirs.”
The revival of the lift – one of only three remaining water-balanced funicular railways in the UK – follows years of restoration work after it was forced to close in 2017 due to safety concerns.
Originally opened in 1885, it has long been a cherished piece of Folkestone’s seaside heritage, carrying passengers up and down the cliff between the Leas and the seafront.
Its return has been made possible with the help of a £4.8 million grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The investment has gone towards major engineering works, including new operating systems and improved accessibility.
The team has also launched a “time capsule” campaign as part of its continued fundraising efforts for the £6.6 million project.
Donors are invited to leave messages for the future in a digital time capsule. Those who give £250 or more will also have their message engraved on a brass plaque, which will be attached to one of the lift’s railway sleepers.
In total, 84 of the 104 plates are available to public donors on a first-come, first-served basis, while 20 have been reserved for local community groups.
Ms Hoette said: “If you want to leave your mark on the lift and if you have something special to say to a loved one or to the public in general, this is the chance to do that.”
To find out more about the time capsule, click here.
