Plans for a beach bar at Warwick Long Bay have been rejected despite the applicant's stated intent that it would adhere to environmental and conservationist guidelines.

More than 100 residents raised objections to the 'Sandbar' — a 60-seat restaurant and cocktail bar to be situated to the west of the Warwick Long Bay car park. Among their concerns were noise, litter and potential parking overflow, while some also described the project as an environmental "travesty".

The Department of Conservation Services did not object to the beach bar but stipulated that any music must not be audible further than 100 metres away.

Planning officers however, turned down the 'Sandbar' as the South Shore Park site is zoned under Open Space and is a National Park Conservation Area.

Applicant Belcario Thomas said his aim was to create an "ambient, Ibiza-type bar" and that he would follow Government conservation and environmental advice to make it "as environmentally friendly as possible".

In a letter to Planning, Jon Wilson Allen, director of agents Entasis Architecture, said: "The applicant measures the success of this venture by its ability to provide much-needed facilities to an area of outstanding natural beauty in a manner that respects and enhances its surroundings.

"This proposal seeks not to destroy or harm the environment but to celebrate it."

The 'Sandbar' was to be set on a T-shaped split-level rustic-style wooden decking, with panels anchored into the sand at a depth of five to six f feet. There was no concrete or masonry in the design, with the modular wooden panels enabling the removal of the decking in the event of a hurricane and at the end of the summer season.

"Upon removal of the deck the dunes will be left in pristine condition with no trace of the deck structure having been there," agents Entasis said.

The 2,500 square-foot restaurant and beach bar included a mobile kitchen — operational between May and November, and 'Port-a-loo' toilets to be situated on the other side of the car park turnaround. Mr. Thomas planned to set out chairs, sunloungers and tables on the lower decking, with the upper level set two feet higher with a tent canopy for shade.

The perimeter was to be cordoned off with a rope to restrict numbers and to prevent people wandering onto the beach with their beverages.

Mr. Thomas — the events' organiser behind Unité, also planned to screen the decking perimeter with native vegetation. A daily clean-up of the decking and surrounding area was also proposed in his business plan. The water and electricity supply would be connected from South Road via a six-inch wide service trench along the grass verge running down the side of the access road. An audio system was to provide "low level background music for diners".

However, there was no additional parking proposed to the ten car and 17 bike parking spaces on the existing car park — something the Development Applications Board said was "insufficient".

In its report, the DAB said: "Warwick Long Bay is the last of Bermuda's pristine beaches. The proposal will have a dominating and detrimental impact on the natural aesthetic of the beach."

The Board concluded the development "takes away open space" and that it also raised questions of health and safety due to the steep incline of the beach and its undertow.

Members said: "Furthermore the site is not suitable for a restaurant and bar where the revenue will be generated primarily from the sale of alcohol.

"Warwick Long Bay is a more seclusive beach than Horseshoe Bay Beach because of natural factors such as the steep profile of the beach, significant undertow and wave action.

"There is likely to be an increased risk to health and safety due to the sale of alcohol in this location."

The DAB said the beach bar was contrary to the Bermuda Plan 1992 Planning Statement "in that it would have a detrimental impact on the environmental, visual and amenity value of the undeveloped land" and coastline. "The proposal is contrary to the preservation of the natural and scenic quality of the Island," the report states.

The development was also contrary to the Bermuda National Parks Act 1986 and did "not adequately address the impacts to parking and traffic".

There were 107 letters of objection to the 'Sandbar'.

Residents of the surrounding area said Mr. Thomas had given insufficient assurance that music and entertainment would not continue late into the evening.

They also argued that any granting of a liquor license would be contrary to the Liquor License Act 1974 (amended 1998), which prohibits licensed premises at National Parks. Among the letters of objection, Maureen Callanan of Frith Estate said: "It is a travesty to ruin one of the most pristine and ecologically beautiful areas of our Island with a structure of any kind."

Erin Jackson added: "I am an 18-year-old Bermudian and I am appalled at the idea of a building of any kind tainting the natural beauty of Warwick Long Bay."

The Bermuda National Trust also opposed the Planning application, saying not enough information had been given regarding the potential visual impact.

Stuart Hayward, chairman of the Bermuda Environmental and Sustainability Taskforce, said last night: "BEST welcomes this DAB decision and the reassurance from it that the mechanisms for protecting special areas from over-development are working.

"This decision adheres to the spirit of sustainable development and conservation of our precious natural resources.

"This is a clear rejection of accelerating attempts to spread over-commercialisation of Bermuda's beaches all around the Island. The Warwick Long Bay neighbours will be very relieved that the DAB has made this sensible and courageous decision to protect open spaces and places of natural beautpy.

"This decision prevents Warwick Long Bay, one of the Island's most beautiful beaches, from being tarnished by commercial projects not in keeping with the beauty and traditional tranquility of our Island's coastal parklands."

Mr. Hayward said: "We are aware of the moves afoot to open up more of the Island to the so-called tourism product.

"While BEST supports a modest and sustainable revival of tourism, we, along with increasing numbers of Bermuda residents, resist the wholesale surrender of our Island home to a tourism-at-any-cost mentality.

"Areas like Warwick Long Bay are a natural treasure and must be preserved for all the Island's residents, now and for the future."

Mr. Thomas said: "I wish to comment at a further date."