RESIDENTS in Gorse Hill could reignite a campaign to stop a tanning shop opening in the area.

Consol Suncenter is opening a staffed beauty salon in Cricklade Road next month which will have sunbed facilities.

Earlier this year, more than 100 people signed a petition against its plan to open an unmanned coin operated sunbed service in the street.

And councillors rejected the application because of fears it would affect the viability of the area and attract underage tanners.

But to comply with planning regulations, Consol will now open a staffed beauty salon and sunbeds, which are still coin-operated, will be available to customers.

Swindon Council says there is no reason why it cannot open. This news has left campaigners fuming.

"I'm disappointed," said Clive Hunt, who runs the Green Hut drop-in centre in the grounds of St Barnabas Church. "They have already started to move in. This is a real kick in the teeth."

Protesters are now looking at fresh ways of trying to prevent the shop from opening. Consol's original plan for an unmanned facility sparked fears that it could be a hotspot for children looking for a fashionable golden look as there would be nobody in the shop to turn them away.

Health bosses at Swindon Primary Care Trust also warned of the potential long-term harm to young skin.

People were also concerned that an unmanned shop could be a magnet for prostitutes, louts and drug dealers and would cause parking problems.

But bosses at Consol, which has another salon in Faringdon Road, said that staff visit unmanned studios regularly, CCTV is installed and that comprehensive information and advice on tanning is available.

Consol said it did not endorse underage tanning, that there were health benefits from using sunbeds and that its buildings did not attract inappropriate behaviour.

Commenting on its newest shop in Gorse Hill, a spokes-man for the company said: "This salon fully complies with the business regulations and planning for the premises."

A spokesman for Swindon Council said: "They (Consol) have retail use to move in a hairdresser, beautician and a couple of sunbeds.

"Once it is up and running it will be monitored to make sure it is being used in the right way."