for a store, lawyer Mr. Richard Hector has claimed.

Mr. Hector is acting on behalf of the owners of Hillview Entertainment in Devil's Hole, in a long-running and controversial licence hearing.

But the licence faces tough opposition from local residents who believe it will lead to drunkenness and violence in the area.

After nearly a month of arguments for and against the application a decision is expected on Friday morning.

At this week's hearing, Mr. Mark Ray, acting for one of the objectors, the Harrington Hundred Store on South Road, finishing his submission.

Mr. Ray said many of the witnesses called by the applicants Mr. Eddie DeMello and Mr. Frank DaPonte were not entirely impartial because of their links with Hillview.

Replying to arguments there was a need for the liquor sales, Mr. Ray said: "If everyone was on foot one would come to the conclusion that there should be a liquor licence every 400 yards but most people in Bermuda have a means of transport. There is just no need for it.'' He said the fact that a Police task force has targeted the area as a problem made it vital that there was no liquor sold there.

He said: "There have been two fire-bombings which show the sensitivity of this area. There have been drug problems in the area and if there is drinking as well it doubles the problem.'' Mr. Hector said a petition in favour of the licence had more names than the objections, but stressed that his applicants did not have to prove a need for a licence to the panel.

He said that there had been no "reasonable'' objections to the application, although there had been a great deal of speculation. Attacking evidence of resident Mr. Troy Berkeley, he said: "If one goes into the Devil's Hole area you do not see 20 to 40 men drinking alcohol in public all day. I submit that is a complete exaggeration. The reality is that when the Harrington Workmen's Club was open disturbances were rife, and when it closed in 1979 the situation improved.

"Devil's Hole is cleaner, property values have gone up and people are moving into the area who would never have walked through it in the past.

"You cannot say you have a sneaking feeling that this is going to happen without any clear evidence. These are not reasonable objections.'' Mr. Hector said any fears raised by the local public could be dealt with by conditions on the licence. And any problems arising from the licence being granted could be monitored before it is renewed in a year's time.