by Martin Jefferies

Officials insist work on Ramsgate’s biggest regeneration project will go ahead, despite uncertainty surrounding funding.

Councillors met behind closed doors last night to discuss the long-awaited Royal Sands development - a seafront complex comprising a luxury hotel and more than 100 apartments on the former Pleasurama site (see artist's impression, top).

Planning permission was granted in January 2004 and although the cliff face has been repaired, no actual construction work has started (see picture, above left).

As part of its original agreement with Thanet council, developers SFP Ventures were required to hand over a £550,000 deposit and a performance bond - allowing the authority to complete the project in the event of SFP failing to finish the work - of £5.6m.

Last month, Thanet council wrote to the developers, asking them to confirm they had funds to fulfil their plans for the seaside site.

The authority today confirmed that “a variety of assurances” have been provided, “significantly reducing” the risk of the project failing altogether.

Journalists and members of the public were banned from hearing details of the guarantees at last night’s secret meeting.

But Cllr Roger Latchford, responsible for regeneration at Thanet council, said: “We feel we've received sufficient reassurances to enable this project to go ahead.”

A final decision allowing construction work to begin will be now made a meeting of full council on Thursday, July 23.