A CANALSIDE café will arrive near the site of a former Thai restaurant in Kings Road which has been shut for ten years.

The 24-seat venue will serve toasted sandwiches, light cold food, snacks and drinks seven days a week from noon to 11pm.

It will be built close to the location of Ben’s Thai Restaurant, which closed in 2005 and has remained derelict since.

Planning permission was granted by the council initially for two years on a temporary basis, with no objections.

The incoming owner has only applied for a food licence and also intends to install 24-hour CCTV in order to avoid the problems with neighbourhood disorder in previous years.

Conservative councillor Ed Hopper supported the idea.

He added: “I warmly welcome this actually. I think this will reduce some of the issues about anti-social behaviour there.

“I hope the owner will be able to open his restaurant soon.”

His Labour counterpart Councillor Tony Page also welcomed the proposal, saying he remembered the Thai eatery well and the new tenant would restore life to the area.

He continued: “I think what is proposed will act as a deterrent for at least the daylight hours.

“Therefore I also welcome the introduction of 24-hour CCTV.”