Passengers trapped in historic Leas Lift
A Victorian water lift due for
closure made a disastrous final journey.
The last members of the public to
travel on the tourist attraction, which links the Leas to the
seafront at Folkestone, were trapped for 45 minutes in sweltering
temperatures because of problems with the valve.
The valve leaked water which poured
out of the 124-year-old lift meaning there was not enough water to
make the water balance lift work.
The lift moved several inches down
the track and then stopped.
Brothers Gary and Conolly Hall, 34
and 28, could not get out as they were part of the way down the
steep cliff.
After his ordeal, Gary, who has lived
in Folkestone for the past 20 years and last used the lift as a
teenager, said: “It was pretty hot in there. Luckily, we had just
bought some drinks.
“We saw the water coming out and
thought it was to keep the track moist. Then we realised there was
a problem.”
The brothers were using the lift as
they knew it was the last opportunity they would have.
It has now shut following a dispute
between Shepway District Council which has subsidised it and the
owners, Radnor Estate.
Tuesday, June 30 2009