Long-awaited works to replace an asbestos-ridden sports pavilion have finally begun.

The changing room block at Jackey Baker’s Field in Ramsgate had to be closed because it was deemed a health and safety hazard and beyond economical repair.

The playing fields were gifted to the residents by the town’s first female mayor in 1924 and bears her name.

But the beleaguered sports ground structure, which is plagued by vandalism and asbestos, was labelled an eyesore by local campaigners in 2023.

A petition was then set up by campaigners and submitted to Thanet District Council (TDC) calling for the overhaul of the site and ended up securing 1,941 signatures.

In June last year, TDC approved a scheme to demolish the site off Highfield Road and to replace it with eight temporary mobile cabins before a permanent replacement is built.

This will include four changing rooms for football teams and two additional units for referees.

But today, work started to knock down the old building.

A TDC statement said: “Work has started to demolish the pavilion building in Jackey Bakers.

“Part of the building was found to be at risk of collapsing, following a report from a member of the public, and an inspection from our Building Control team.

“The building now has temporary fencing preventing access, this is for the safety of members of the public.

“The building will be demolished and replaced with a temporary building to be used for football tournaments in the upcoming season.”

The council says the work is due to be complete by early June and the “temporary building will eventually be replaced by a new permanent facility”.

Councillors decided that repairing the building would not have represented “value for money” as it would have been expensive to retrofit mechanical and electrical equipment.

The temporary structures are due to be built off-site meaning that installation time “will be minimal”, the council says.

It has also pledged to carry out “other improvements to Jackey Bakers” which will involve feedback from the community and user groups during the development stage.

Ahead of approval, councillors had raised concerns that it would not be possible to protect the temporary facility and it could end up unusable while a long-term plan is proposed.

A £370,000 budget for the overhaul and demolition has been set, while larger plans for the site's future are developed.

The building now has temporary fencing around it to prevent access and to keep the public safe.