Work starts on seafront project

Retail, leisure and housing is being built on the site at Ramsgate

Construction of a £25m leisure and retail development is getting under way on the seafront in Ramsgate.

A hotel, fitness centre, cafes, restaurants and apartments are being built on the site of the former Pleasurama theme park.

Thanet council said the project was expected be completed by 2010.

Council leader Sandy Ezekiel said: "This has been a long time coming, but to see work finally start on this site is excellent news."

The key to sustained regeneration is attracting people to live in the town Councillor Sandy Ezekiel

He said the development would bring "a great deal to Ramsgate".

And he added: "Ramsgate has already come a long way in the last few years, but the key to sustained regeneration is attracting people to live in the town and support the local economy."

The authority said site huts and equipment had already arrived for the first phase of the Royal Sands development, which involves building new roads.

Tenders are now being invited for treatment work to the cliff face behind the site to tackle surface drainage problems, the council said.

That work involves repairing the cliff face and installing railings along the cliff top to replace temporary fencing.