Had a very positive meeting with Polly Billington MP on Wednesday regarding the lift at Viking Bay. Later that day had an email from local councillor that basically said no money to open lift at weekends but it will be discussed at the 2026/7 TDC Budget meeting….

Polly Billington MP for Thanet
 
Much thanks to my guides around Broadstairs beach and prom Christine Tongue, Jackie and also Barry Stickings the champion of Broadstairs beach lift. He explained how vital it is for disabled people to get to the beach because other ways down are too dangerous for many.
Christine and Jackie rely on their mobility scooters to get about but showed me quite how difficult it is to access and use the beach and prom safely.
Getting our public space to be safe and useable for people with disabilities isn’t just a “nice to do”. It’s an opportunity to make us a better place for visitors and our tourism industry as well as making life easier for disabled people who live here all year round.
If you have difficult experiences trying to get around our three towns because of access issues let me know! I’d like to build a picture of how we can make Thanet a place which is truly accessible for all.