A NEW voluntary group has been formed with the aim of restoring a Victorian water lift carriage.

Behind the launch of the 1890 Leas Lift Carriage Restoration Appeal are local campaigner Robert Mouland, retired civil engineer Jack Gill and the Harvey West ward councillor Rory Love.

The group aims to raise the £25,000 necessary for a complete restoration of the four-ton carriage. It is hoped that the work will be carried out by a specialist firm in Kent.

The owner of the lift, Shepway District Council, has given its backing to the group’s aims.

It was back in August 1890 that a pair of stepped lift carriages started operating on the now disused lines alongside The Leas Lift carriages that remain in operation today.

The stepped design, which brings the whole carriage closer to the tracks, was introduced to give passengers a more comfortable ride, free from the oscillations that could be felt in the earlier carriages.

The carriages were restored in the 1930s and continued to operate until 1966.

In 1985 one of the carriages was removed and dismantled by the council and the other was sent to the Dover Transport Museum. Its return to Folkestone was arranged in 2003 by Mr Mouland, pending plans for its restoration.

The new group aims to achieve the complete rebuilding of the carriage and wants to display it in Folkestone for the benefit of residents and visitors.

The group is shortly to launch a public appeal for donations.

Meanwhile, the carriage was due to be moved into secure storage today, by Millennium Lifting, of Swingfield and Charles Hewitt, of Canterbury, who were both providing their services free.

Cllr Love said: “The unique design of this carriage makes it a very special part of Folkestone’s heritage. We intend to use the finest craftsmen and to have the work done in Kent.”