Future of historic cliff lift up for debate

The future of a seaside town's historic cliff lift is up for debate, a month after it was closed on safety grounds.

The Victorian-era Scarborough Spa Cliff Lift was shut on 21 August after an engineering assessment identified issues with its infrastructure and critical components.

Members of Scarborough Town Council are set to discuss the closure and the prospects for reopening the lift at a full council meeting later.

A motion due to be put before councillors calls for formal representations to be made to North Yorkshire Council seeking clarification about the reasons for the closure, any defects requiring repair and likely timescales for the attraction's return to service.

North Yorkshire Council has yet to announce a reopening date and is still reviewing the findings of a specialist report.

Council leader Carl Les, said: "The lift is an important part of Scarborough's history and identity, and we recognise the affection people have for this landmark attraction."

The cliff lift, built in 1875 at a cost of about £8,000, is one of Scarborough's best-known heritage attractions.

North Yorkshire Council said it closed the lift with immediate effect following an independent assessment by specialist engineers to ensure public safety.

The authority said the survey had examined the condition of the tracks, carriages and associated infrastructure.

It added that the lift operates in a "challenging coastal environment, where salt-laden air, high winds and severe weather can accelerate wear and corrosion".

Les said council officers were "carefully reviewing" the report and considering what options might be available.

He added: "No decisions have yet been made regarding the scope of any future works, timescales or funding arrangements."

The council said further updates "would be provided in due course".

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said councillors agreed to postpone plans to permanently decommission Whitby's cliff lift in March, while a further study into its future was carried out.

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