RESIDENTS have expressed their joy after a cliff lift in Southbourne reopened following months of repair work.

The lift, located at Fisherman’s Walk, allows accessible access to the beach as an alternative to the zigzag path.

Numerous residents have expressed their excitement of the lift reopening, saying that it’s ‘fantastic.’

Others have said the lift, also known as the cliff railway, has ‘been greatly missed by so many.’

Boscombe East and Pokesdown ward councillor, George Farquhar, said the lift is essential for those with less mobility.

“Some mobility scooters don’t have the ability, or enough power, to get back up the slope, so for a very large percentage of our population it cuts them off,” said Cllr Farquhar.

The Fisherman’s Walk lift is one of two in Bournemouth, along with another on the West Cliff.

It has become a historical feature in Southbourne, after first being built in 1935.

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Fisherman’s Walk cliff lift has also achieved the title of shortest funicular in the UK, by the Guinness World Records.

A funicular is an ascending, or descending, railway operated by a cable and Southbourne’s measures just 39 metres long.

“It's a very historical lift and there should be the heritage, but from my perspective, I have a lot of residents contacting me because of the inaccessibility to get down onto the beach,” said Cllr Farquhar.

Repairs have been ongoing for most of the year, with work first predicted to end by Easter, then being pushed back until the end of May.

Although work has been done to fix the chassis of the lift, BCP Council has said further improvements will need to be made.

These repairs, which will be made over the winter months, will replace the controller and all the specified auxiliary equipment.

This work is predicted to begin on October 31, 2023.

BCP Council has extended opening hours of the lift this summer, and it will now be operating from 9am to 6pm, seven days a week.