A RETHINK was promised this week over controversial plans to site a 'chill-out' shelter near old people's homes and a children's play area in Harnham.

It follows outrage from elderly tenants of Essex Square, who claimed their lives were already being made hell by gangs of young rowdies, and that the proposed 'chill-out' of partially sheltered seats for teenagers would exacerbate the problems.

Parents also complained that they were frightened to allow their children to use the community play area because of the culture of intimidation that had developed in the area.

A group of elderly tenants took their battle to Monday night's full meeting of Salisbury District Council, where they handed in a petition of nearly 100 names objecting to the proposal.

City committee spokesman John Collier sympathised with the residents of Essex Square and said he had already arranged with colleagues to defer implementation of the shelter plans.

He said there would be full consultation over the issue before it was given further consideration at a meeting of the committee next month.