A decision is due to be made on the future of a historic seaside attraction which forms part of a wider plan to revamp a beach area.

Walpole Bay in Cliftonville is set for a £1.8 million makeover including a new café as part of the Margate Town Deal - a £22.2m project, for which money was awarded in 2021.

A key part of this is the restoration of the “Cliff Lift” from Queen’s Promenade at the top of the cliffs down to the beach.

In papers formally proposing the works to Walpole Bay late last year, the council wrote: “Without access to a working lift, some people are limited to exploring the clifftop.

“The plan is that the running of the lift and maintenance will be supported through new commercial opportunities within the beach facilities at the bay.”

The Grade II-listed art deco lift was originally built by the Ministry of Health in 1934 to encourage people to use the beach.

But the ailing installation has been closed and left to wrack and ruin for about six years, Thanet District Council’s (TDC) documents say.

On Wednesday, TDC’s planning committee is recommended to give permission to allow the renovation works to begin.

The carriage and handrails would be replaced and the top entrance will be refurbished to “enable the reopening of the lift,” plans from the council say.

A new light is also to be installed at the sea level, near the Walpole Bay tidal pool.

Cllr Alan Currie (Lab), who represents the area, said: “I’m really happy about the restoration.

“The vast majority of residents are really happy with the whole project

“It’s a real positive project for the area to get so much funding.”

Even the interior of the lift car has been graffitied, but TDC wrote: “From recent photographic evidence showing the dilapidated state of the lift car and building interior, it is clear that the lift car, hydraulics and lift car doors and lighting were not original to the building, and dating to 1994.

“It is also clear that they have suffered from water ingress and condensation which has corroded the operating system and doors, and therefore could not be safely returned to operational use without the proposed works being undertaken.”

The council adds the lift car itself, hydraulics and mechanisms are actually all from about 2000 meaning “the historic car and features have long since been lost” though the refurb is intended to be true to the original art deco style.

The lift also needs safety upgrades, such as brighter internal lighting, emergency lights and an emergency call cable.

Cllr Currie added: “The Walpole Bay tidal pool has become really popular in that area over the last three or four years, more families are using it and that’s why we’re so pleased to have the facility block down there with the toilets and changing rooms and so on.”

A separate planning application will propose a pavilion and café at the beach level, hosting facilities including changing rooms, outdoor showers, lockers, store rooms, toilets and a bookable “wellbeing space”.

A TDC spokesperson said: “Funding is currently allocated for the Access Walpole projects.

“This includes improvements to the tidal pool itself, improvements to the steps between the upper and lower promenade, refurbishment of the Grade II-listed cliff lift, and any other access improvements at the bay.

“We’ll share a progress update on the project on the council website and with residents signed up to our Town Deal mailing list, shortly.”