Richard Branson wants to bring his new leisure empire to Thundersley - and the planned complex would be the first of its kind in the south and only the fourth in the country.

Virgin Active is Branson's newest company which aims to move away from the health club idea and instead concentrate on a total lifestyle package.

It offers a huge gym with state-of-the-art equipment, a swimming pool, aerobics studios and a kidsville for youngsters from three months to 16 years which includes a basketball court, Sony PlayStations, a movie den and a soft play area.

A modern British cafe and bar offer flexible menus from breakfast to supper and visitors can also unwind in the hydrotherapy pool, sauna and steam room which changes colour and smell to enhance relaxation.

The site also boasts a medicentre with a walk-in GP and physiotherapy service.

The first Virgin complex will open in Preston on August 30 followed by a second in Leeds on October 15 and a third in Northampton in March 2000.

Now the leisure company wants to open its first south of England centre in Rayleigh Road, Thundersley - backing onto Deanes School.

The proposed site provoked uproar in January after Premier Leisure asked to build a £4.5 million leisure development with a bowls rink, outdoor tennis courts, cafe, creche, squash courts, sunbed, swimming pool, jacuzzi and sauna.

But councillors threw it out, claiming the two-storey building would create traffic chaos and problems for nearby residents.

The lack of adequate parking was also a major issue and residents bombarded councillors with complaints about lighting for outdoor facilities, fears about noise and the design of the building.

The green belt site already holds outline planning permission dating back to 1988 for a sports and leisure complex and the site access and car park have already been started, which means development can be completed under planning law.

Virgin Active plans to allay residents fears by holding an open exhibition in temporary buildings on the site, to explain exactly what it plans to do.

A spokesman said: "Virgin Active is in the process of finalising a planning application to be submitted to the council for a leisure complex that will provide numerous benefits and create a much-needed facility for the area.

"We know planning permission was refused for our competitors but we think we can overcome the problems highlighted at the time. We need residents to keep an open mind until they see what we have planned."

The exhibition takes place from July 14 to 17 on the proposed site at 200 Rayleigh Road, Thundersley.

Under offer - Virgin hopes to develop this site in Rayleigh Road, Thundersley

Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY

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