A beach bar and restaurant are set for Warwick Long Bay after new Environment Minister Glenn Blakeney upheld an appeal by developers.

Environment campaigners said they were "incredulous" at the decision which overturns an earlier refusal of permission for the Sandbar — a 60-seat restaurant and cocktail bar west of the beach's car park.

"What is the point of laws and regulations and the expert counsel of planners, conservation specialists, custodians of parklands and even an independent inspector, if a Minister can ignore it all, and in the process endorse the trashing of the very environment he is pledged to protect?" asked Stuart Hayward of Bermuda Environmental and Sustainability Taskforce (BEST).

Applicant Belcario Thomas must now get a building permit and stick to 12 conditions including rodent control and restrictions on noise.

Commenting publicly at length on the project for the first time yesterday, Mr. Thomas said in a statement: "I am encouraged that this initiative, designed to broaden the offerings of our tourism product, has now been sanctioned by the Ministry of the Environment, particularly in light of the global economic slowdown and the potential consequences for Bermuda's tourism.

"Similar offerings along the beaches of Tobacco Bay, Horseshoe Bay and others have proven both responsible and popular over the years with residents and tourists alike and we are committed to providing a similar, small, low key quality product.

"Our temporary wooden structure with mobile kitchen will be minimal and easily removable and we have committed to introducing only endemic or native coastal species to the area to enhance the space. As an added bonus, we will renovate the existing public washroom facilities at no cost to the taxpayer.

"If the restaurant is permitted to open, I am confident that with a great management team, and continued support from the community, we can deliver a simple, quality and responsible offering which continues to consult with and take heed of concerns, advice and stipulations of Government conservationists and environmentalists alike.

"We would like to take this opportunity to thank the wide base of support we are receiving while navigating this challenging process."

More than 100 residents had raised objections to the Sandbar, citing noise, litter and potential parking overflow.

Mr. Hayward continued in his statement: "The Minister has also gone against the considered decision of the Development Applications Board, whose interpretation of the Planning legislation and other factors moved them to deny the application in the first place.

"It is sickening to see decades of good sense Planning legislation and public shaping of consecutive development plans thrown out the window by a Minister who, in doing so, violates the trust placed in him upon accepting the environment portfolio.

"What is to be gained by this development? This is no benefit to tourism. This is of no benefit to the residents. Any jobs created will likely require imported workers. If tourists or residents want to visit a beach with commercial facilities, they have plenty of options, from Tobacco Bay to Horseshoe Bay and beyond.

"This is of no special benefit to anyone, except a private individual who will now capitalise on private enterprise conducted on sacred public parkland."

Mr. Hayward suggested Government could show it was interested in promoting sustainable tourism by aggressively seeking to sustain Bermuda's image.

"Warwick Long Bay is unquestionably one of the most beautiful and most pristine of Bermuda's beaches," he said.

"If its rank, supported by laws and regulations, cannot protect this special beach from commercial development, then no beach is safe. What we are seeing here is the opening of the door to the wrecking of every last beach on our coastline. If Warwick Long Bay is not safe, then no beach can be saved.

"With this decision we are selling out our heritage and an environmental treasure. Every Bermuda resident should take note of and take issue with this decision."