ANTISOCIAL behaviour by youths in Harnham will cause even more misery to people living in Parsonage Green and around the recreation ground if plans go ahead for a sports wall.

This is the claim of residents, who this week handed in a petition to Salisbury district council calling for the sports wall to be abandoned.

They also planned to turn up in force to voice their concerns at last night's meeting of the council's city committee.

Objectors say they would rather have the money spent somewhere else than have the sports wall erected on the grassed open space off Parsonage Green.

Residents said that, if the council insisted on providing the facility for young people, then it should go on to an open space off Middle Street, where there is already a football pitch.

Christine Wood, of Parsonage Green, said residents had suffered for years from yobbish behaviour, foul language and intimidation by youths congregating in Harnham.

She said building the sports wall close to houses in Parsonage Green or on a second optional site in the eastern corner of the recreation ground near homes in St Mary's Road would simply bring the antisocial behaviour closer to people's homes.

She said both areas had a high number of elderly people who were "extremely worried" about the proposals.

Another objector, Andrew Coombes, said many residents felt the Parsonage Green site was "clearly unsuitable", as it was very close to a busy main road.

The Reverend David Scrace, chairman of the Harnham Youth Venture group, agreed it was a difficult issue to resolve.

He said: "The young people in Harnham have nowhere to go and no one to speak up for them.

"We must acknowledge that our young people are also citizens and have the right to be looked after."

In a report to the city committee, parks manager Reg Williams said: "This issue needs to be determined once and for all, and allow the monies to be used elsewhere, should facilities not be proceeded with at this time."