Britain's oldest cliff lift has closed with immediate effect over safety concerns. The lift in the seaside town of Scarborough, Yorkshire, first opened in 1875.
Victorian-era attraction shut after engineers find issues
The lift was used to transport passengers between the hotels on the Esplanade and the spa. Engineers found that the lift had "a number of issues", according to North Yorkshire Council.
The attraction, which cost £8,000 to build, is the oldest of its kind and was originally powered by water and gas engines. It was converted to run on electricity in the 1950s.
Heritage importance and future plans
The Victorian-era Scarborough Spa Cliff Lift is one of the town's popular heritage attractions. Live performances and exhibitions were held in the town last year to celebrate its 150th anniversary, The Sun reports.
Councillor Carl Les of North Yorkshire Council said the lift "is an important part of Scarborough's history and identity". No decisions have been made "regarding the scope of any future works, timescales or funding arrangements," he added.
Coastal environment and next steps
The council said the findings would be assessed in detail and further updates would be shared. The latest report investigated the condition of the tracks, carriages and associated infrastructure.
The council said the lift is in a "challenging coastal environment", which could accelerate wear and corrosion.
