Will Branson step in to save historic lift?
An iconic seaside lift is set to close for good over safety fears.
The future of the Leas Lift in Lower Sandgate Road in Folkestone is in the balance after the operating company was told a new braking system would cost £80,000.
The current system has controlled the carriages for the last 131 years.
One resident hopes Sir Richard Branson will save the attraction and has written to the entrepreneur, but has not yet received a reply.
HSE’s specialist inspector, Bob Leeming, said: “This decision was potentially about saving people’s lives.
“It is not appropriate to have a single brake to stop this type of lift, if the brake failed with no back-up there is nothing to stop it from crashing and from our experience that type of accident could easily end in tragedy. The brake type used on this lift is known to have problems and has the real potential to completely fail.”