SIR: When the BEN gave my restaurant The Amir in 1993, the Best Restaurant of the year award, it was a proud moment for me and my family, recognising the results of the hard work and effort we had put in to create a truly excellent restaurant. It therefore came as a surprise to me to see an article (BEN, January 27) about my plans for a new restaurant on Chapletown Road - "Food plan is hot potato" - which may have left some of your readers with the totally wrong impression that it is the biggest threat to civilisation since Genghis Khan (no relative). A few facts and figures may help to ease any concerns that local residents may have. My plan is to set up a good quality local restaurant, which is in tune with the residential nature of the area. The opening hours will reflect this and take full account of the patterns of the community and in particular of the school next door. The restaurant will only open in the evenings, long after school hours and as a result will not add to the traffic peak at the end of the school day. Like the local pubs it will shut at 11 pm on weeknights and at no time will be open after midnight. Our plans include an ample car park, which would be big enough to hold all our customers' cars, even on the optimistic assumption that the restaurant is packed out every night!

In sum, my aim is to set up a first class restaurant where locals can go with friends and family to enjoy good food in congenial surroundings, a convenient and friendly place which complements the area, will add to the quality of life of the community and I hope in time will be seen as a local asset.

Once I have drawn up detailed plans, I will, of course, be very happy to discuss them with the local councillors and would in particular welcome the views of the local residents.

Sabir Khan

Chorley New Road, Bolton

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