SWINDON Council hopes its plans for changes to Barbury Castle will make the historic site more enjoyable to use.

The council has unveiled proposals to improve the facilities of the area around Ridgeway Farm.

But it has denied its plans would ruin the area or turn it into a major tourist attraction.

The Friends of the Ridgeway environmental group is against the plans and will hold a protest rally at Barbury Castle on Easter Monday. But Geoff Lewis, the assistant chief of Swindon Services, said: "There never has been and there never will be any plans to turn it into a major tourist attraction. The council's primary objective is to make it a more enjoyable site for its current informal users."

Among the council's proposals are to develop a new refreshment facility complete with an indoor seating area with space for educational displays.

It is set to continue repairs to the damaged castle walls and build single bedsits for park staff. Redundant agricultural buildings are due to be demolished to restore as much of the area as possible to common land.

In the longer term it plans to move the toilet block from the car park to the bungalow area to provide a better standard of facilities.

The barbecue hire will continue alongside a site for overnight backpackers and horseriders and the mountain bike hire could be reintroduced.

The Ridgeway Farm has been run by Lynne Simpson and her family but the council made the controversial decision to evict Mrs Simpson make better use of the area around the farm.

Mrs Simpson said: "Most people are complaining about the fact that there will not be a 24-hour presence on the site, which I would like to see.

"It seems the council are really only interested in bringing the tourists in."

Comments can be sent to: The Director, Swindon Services, Great Western Way, Swindon SN2 2DW.