THE owner of Old Town's fire ravaged Locarno is determined to push ahead with his scheme to transform the historic site.

Speaking for the first time since the fire, entrepreneur bar owner Gael Mackenzie said that he expects a structural report from engineers on the historic building's state this week, after it was damaged in a suspected arson attack on May 18.

But though his ambitious plan to rejuvenate the site may have suffered a delay, he said the plan for the site is still very much on track.

"I am very disappointed at the fire, but it has happened and as far as I am concerned the scheme is still going ahead," Mr Mackenzie said.

"I am waiting for the structural report to ascertain what can be retained and what can't be retained. The fire has not deterred me, although the timescale may have been set back a few weeks.

"Apart from that, Swindon Council and Countryside Properties and myself are still doing a lot of work behind the scenes. The alternative is just to see the building decay."

Today the council should have the results of a report detailing what intermediate work needs to be done to make the building safe.

Mr Mackenzie, who owns bars in Wood Street, Old Town, as well as in Bristol and Cirencester, bought the Old Town's Locarno and town hall buildings three years ago and put forward a plan to turn the it into a nightclub.

Although the plan failed after magistrates refused to grant a liquor licence, he drew up a new scheme containing a bar, rather than nightclub.

The proposed mixed-use urban regeneration scheme was awarded to Bristol based Countryside Properties by Mr Mackenzie and Swindon Council, which owns the adjacent car parks, after the partnership put the site for development out to tender.

It is hoped that the heart of Old Town will beat again with the revamp of the former ballroom and town hall buildings and the creation of a piazza-style open space in The Square.

Barry Cummins, associate land director of Countryside Properties Plc, said: "We are considering the results of investigations taking place and have nothing further to add at this moment in time."

Police investigating the cause of the fire have mounted extensive house-to-house inquiries and appealed for people who may have seen anything suspicious to come forward.

Meanwhile, the council is to remove an abandoned Hyundai car from The Square after it was reported as dumped.

Peter Smith, managing director of Lundle marketing in The Square, said: "Given the nature of the vehicle, its apparent lack of ownership and the recent occurrences we feel that it should be removed, thus eliminating the potential for another serious incident."