Latest news 26/08/21 The lift at Viking Bay is now fully operational and being used by all, however Ramsgate lift is still awaiting an update from Thanet District Council. These lifts are not just for the summer seasons but for the year giving access to all.

Therefore this petition will remain active until the lifts are PERMANENTLY open . Please share to gain more awareness thank you 

Barry Stickings MBE 

The purpose of this petition is as follows-

1. Both lifts to be fully repaired and maintained.

2. Access is available to ALL permanently throughout the year not just during the summer. 

3. A suitable funding package is put in place by TDC to achieve this goal.

Thanet District Council announced on 01/04/21 that the lifts at Viking Bay and Ramsgate will be closed this is their statement as detailed below.

On the Thanet council website a statement says: “Unfortunately our seaside lifts at Viking Bay and Ramsgate remain closed. Even if temporary repairs can be made to get the lifts open, contractors have advised there is no guarantee they will stay working during the season.

“A long-term strategy for both lifts will be formulated to consider their future. In the meantime, the council has measures in place to allow for alternative accessible routes to the beach, which include:

Matting installed at one side of the beach (Harbour Street, Broadstairs) to lengthen the boardwalk and allow for alternative accessible routes to the beach.”

This was not good enough and needs to be addressed, the matting still remains.

This impacts massively on our disabled community. I have a son who is blind the lift is helpful for him on some occasions but more so for those who have other issues. This impacts severely on our disabled community and disabled visitors. The solution of matting is NOT good enough. 

These lifts are part of Broadstairs and Ramsgate. Visitors flock to our beautiful towns and love the fact that its open to all to use ALL amenities. It will have an impact not only on them but our local shops and business’s who some will no longer be able to reach. 

Spending money has started but it’s a long way to go yet one lift  repaired is a great start but both the lifts need to be open. Give our disabled people the same level of inclusion and access as their peers. Everybody needs access. Our disabled community and those who need these lifts including our visitors will lose access because of this action, please help and support this campaign so TDC will look at this situation and make the lifts permanently open to all year round.