Evening Advertiser 11/10/05

A FAMILY restaurant could now be built on the north Swindon site where residents campaigned against plans to build a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant.

Residents in Ash Brake successfully fought a KFC at the entrance to their estate on Thamesdown Drive.

But now a large company which runs numerous restaurants including Harvester is interested in building on the land.

Coun Justin Tomlinson (Con, Abbey Meads), said: "I am unbelievably excited about these proposals.

"We have always accepted that development would take place and these plans are probably the best we could have hoped for.

"We will work closely with them to make sure the scheme is in keeping with the area, focusing on landscaping, opening hours and traffic, but I believe that the scheme has the potential to enhance the local area and bring an end to the uncertainty over that land which has affected house prices on the estate in recent years.

"This is great news for the residents of Ash Brake and shows that despite repeated advice for us to back down we were right to stand up and be counted.

"Following the KFC refusal we worked extremely hard to give alternative suggestions to the developers.

"Thankfully they have been able to match these."

It is believed that Mitchells and Butlers is carrying out a site survey and wants to build a family restaurant, possibly with some accommodation at the Ash Brake site.

A spokeswoman for the company confirmed it was interested in the site but said it was early days and it could not give any more details.

The company runs chains including Harvester Restaurants, Vintage Inns, Toby Carvery and Ember Inns as well as All Bar One, Metropolitan Professionals, Edward's and Scream.

Swindon Town goalkeeper Rhys Evans, who campaigned against the plans for a KFC on the site, said he would much rather have a family restaurant there.

"Anything would be better than any kind of fast food chain," said Rhys, who lives nearby.

"I guess compared to what we were facing we would take that all day long.

"If something has to be built on it I would rather have something family targeted."