The open-fronted shelter in Warner's Park, St Ives, was first suggested by police several years ago as a way to move trouble away from benches near houses on Parkside and Fairfields, where people were known to congregate on their way back from a night on the town.

The idea was resurrected last year by St Ives Youth Town Council and received positively by the full town council.

But after locals found out, they objected to the idea believing that rather than drawing noisy youngsters away from their properties, it could attract more trouble.

Now the council plans to consult with them after holding talks with the police and youth workers on the subject, while the youth town council are surveying the opinion of youngsters in the area to find out whether there is a demand for the facility and whether Warner's Park is the right location.

New chairman of the youth council, Chris Unwin, said: "We thought it should be in Warner's Park, but residents were up in arms about it and saying we are going to attract bad people near their houses, so we have taken it back to stage one."

Ward councillor John Davies, who recently discussed the situation with some of his constituents, explained the opinion of those living nearby would be crucial to the decision.

He said: "Lots of local residents along Parkside think it would attract more trouble. Someone at the town council said it's town council property so we can put what we like there, but I think nothing at all should happen without full consultation with local residents and the majority of councillors agree with me."

Chairman of the amenities committee, Jason Ablewhite, said: "There are issues in our parks, especially at night. The difficult job is trying to balance between what is nuisance and what is kids enjoying the use of a public park.
"One of the problems is that people think it's a covered shelter where kids can get behind and cause trouble, but that's not the case."

The police said that although there was the occasional disturbance from adults returning from the pubs and clubs late at night there was not a big problem with anti-social behaviour by young people in the park.