Residents say they are being forced into a road after the pavement outside a development site was blocked off.

Concrete cubes have been placed in front of the Leas Pavilion in Folkestone, which is awaiting a complete overhaul after planning permission was granted to rejuvenate the sunken and historic building.

As well as renovating the run-down former theatre, along The Leas, the project will see a nine-storey, glass fronted apartment block built above and around it.

Ninety-one flats with sea views will fill the new build, with cash from the sale of the homes allowing developer, Gustavia, to pay for the multi-million pound makeover of the pavilion, which first opened more than a century ago.

Surveys across the site have already started, including assessing for damp and timber rot.

But now, a row of concrete blocks have been erected on the pavement outside the pavilion, which has also housed a tearoom, cinema and nightclub over the years.

Developers say they have been placed there to ensure everyone's health and safety while works continue, but they have caused anger among those living near by.

A resident struggles to pass by the bollards

Cllr Mary Lawes, member of Folkestone Town Council, said: "Residents on The Leas are outraged by hoardings being put up around the Leas Pavilion.

"These hoardings are blocking pavements leaving pedestrians, the disabled and blind to manoeuvre their way around and being forced onto the roads.

"This town seriously needs to consider the huge amounts of street furniture blocking access for the disabled and blind.

"They are entitled to access as is everyone but it must also be safe."

Jayl De Lara, who lives along The Leas, said: "Is this a sign of things to come? They've already taken the pavement, what next?

"Yesterday I saw a gentleman pushing his wife in a wheelchair and he couldn't get passed. He was told by the workers to go back around."

Mr De Lara is also concerned about the lack of parking along The Leas, which has been further hindered by the removal of two existing car parks in Cheriton Place and Longford Terrace.

Land from the two car parks - which are either side of the pavilion - will be used for the new apartment block.

Mr De Lara added: "These car parks were busy just one week before they were closed for the Leas Pavilion development.

"Many of the cars there will be parking on The Leas itself in future, especially on busy summer days, making it even more difficult for the local residents; especially blue badge holders and permit holders.

"The lack of spaces has often resulted in people having to park well away from their homes, often in adverse weather conditions in the winter."

He is also concerned about the proposed working hours on site, which include Saturday mornings.

He said: "Our weekend’s are sacrosanct. There is no local precedent we can find for granting these working hours."

A spokesman for the Leas Pavilion Development Ltd, set up by Gustavia, said: "The hoarding is in place to ensure everyone’s health and safety once our works get underway, as well as to secure the site itself.

"Kent County Council has granted us a licence for this which runs until the end of August 2023.

"The hoarding has had to be positioned across the pavement as we will be working with machinery right up to the site boundary.

"We will ensure that advisory diversion signs are in place for pedestrians, enabling them to cross at suitable points to the footpaths on the other side of the road.

"We know that construction can be disruptive and we are committed to keeping any inconvenience to a minimum. We will be providing residents with regular updates as our works progress."

The Leas Pavilion, also known as the Leas Club, was first built in 1902 and has served as a tearoom, theatre, cinema, bowling alley, snooker hall and nightclub.

The reason for it being sunk into the street was the ‘ancient lights’ clause in leases for hotels on either side meaning no building could be built more than 7ft above street level, to ensure daylight would not be blocked from these buildings.

It closed in 2007 and has since fallen into major disrepair, suffering with water damage and timber decay.

Former owner Churchgate was previously granted planning permission in 2015 to overhaul the site into a health club with 68 flats but it never went ahead.

In 2019, FHDC issued a legal repairs notice to them listing six pages of works necessary to protect the dilapidated building.

Gustavia, formerly Kantion, revealed their plans to renovate the pavilion and create the flats above it in 2020, with planning permission being granted in September, despite some objections from residents.

British actors Sir Ian Mckellen - of Lord of the Rings - and Miriam Margolyes - from Harry Potter - also submitted objections on the council’s planning portal to the scheme.

Last month, Gustavia - which has now purchased the pavilion - revealed surveys have started on site and said construction was expected to begin in the autumn.

People can also now register their interest in the flats, which have been designed by Hollaway architects.

Read more: All the latest news from Folkestone