WORK on the new cinema's foundations has finally begun - but before anyone starts celebrating the council leader has warned it is likely to be another empty gesture.

Empire says piling (driving poles into the ground to create stable foundations) has started and town hall threats to compulsory purchase the site are unhelpful.

But council leader Julian Bell accused the company of delaying tactics to disrupt plans to hand the work to a more reliable developer.

He said: "They've painted the hoardings and put up some new signs but I haven't seen any more work than that.

"They said they have a piling contract but they still don't have a construction contract to finish the cinema which is what we said we need not to go ahead with the CPO.

"I think they're just desperate to avoid the CPO but they're not going to build the cinema."

At the end of next week the council will choose the developer to bear the cost of buying the site and build its own picture house. After that the council will put the wheels in motion to start the CPO, expected to take 15 to 18 months.

Work ground to a halt in 2008. Last year Empire blamed inactivity on a row with the council over planning regulations after it scaled up the plans from 16 to 20 screens.

Empire say they are committed to the development and have appointed a construction manager for the main work. But refused to say whether a construction contract had been drawn up.

A spokeswoman said: "We believe the continued threats of a CPO are counterproductive both to our own development and to many other businesses or developers who would like to invest in Ealing but are concerned about being in a similar position.

"The CPO also affects established businesses along Bond Street and fronting Mattock Lane, many of which have invested and upgraded their buildings.

"Empire Cinemas worked with the Ealing planners for more than 18 months before we gained the revised planning permission at the end of 2011 and, since then, has worked diligently to commence construction on the site.

"Because of the scale and nature of the development, a significant amount of preliminary works are required before physical construction can proceed."