WORK on a major leisure and retail development on the Pleasurama site on Ramsgate seafront is to begin this autumn.

Knight Developments Limited has been appointed as the contractors on the Royal Sands development of a quality hotel, retailing and housing.

The development agreement between Thanet council, owners of the site and SFP Ventures (UK), requires that the highway work must be the first phase of work undertaken.

During this time, treatment work to address some surface drainage problems will also be undertaken to the cliff face by the local authority, which is due to be completed by Spring 2008, at which point the temporary fencing on the cliff top will be removed and replaced with railings.

Cllr Roger Latchford, cabinet member for economy and culture, said: "I am aware that there have been reports that the work on the Pleasurama site would not be starting until next year, but this is simply untrue.

"The project will begin in the autumn with the highway work. Under the development agreement, this has to be completed before any building work can begin on site.

"We know that nearby residents have anxiously been waiting for the repairs on the cliff face to start and the removal of the temporary fencing and I am delighted that this will also be the first part of the work undertaken on the site.

"This means that the railings should be in place by late spring of next year, news which I am sure local people will welcome."

William Anthony, managing director of Knight Developments, said: "We will be working closely with local people during the construction phase and will be keeping them informed of progress."