The answer to my question is, yes.
Going in through the side also allowed me to fit/bond in a threaded plate, so the issue should not reoccur.

I have a Spark, 602, which I am trying to revive, gathering the bits from storage in the loft and various sheds. I need to replace a broken forestay chain plate. I have doe this in the past, using the techniques given here. Very useful. This time however the inevitable has happened and two of the th...