Horseshoe Bay concert attended by over 3,000 youngsters this weekend, complained one local resident.

A Horseshoe Road resident who declined to be named, was among those who yesterday complained to the Agriculture and Fisheries Department about the noise and mess left behind last weekend's party.

The Sunnyside Park resident asked why liquor was allowed to be sold and why Park Rangers were clearing up the debris the following morning at taxpayers expense.

Visitors staying at the Southampton Princess whom he met on the beach early on Sunday morning were aghast at the mess, he said.

But assistant director of Parks Mr. William Cook claimed the problem was a question of striking a balance so Bermuda's youth could also enjoy Bermuda's parks.

"Bermudian youth need a venue,'' Mr. Cook said. "Judging from the huge turnout there was obviously a need for it.'' He added that while the Parks Commission was criticised for not doing enough for Bermuda's youth, complaints were lodged when it did.

He admitted he had expected to receive complaints but judged that the organisers had done a good job and that the crowds were well-behaved. "We saw no problems,'' he said.

Alcohol, he admitted, had been sold although organisers had signed a contract promising not to.

"It won't be happening again,'' Mr. Cook said. "It was not meant to be. We did see it sold there but at the time we couldn't stop it without causing an incident.'' The concert featuring two London DJs went on until 3 a.m. but the music could only be heard as far as the Horseshoe Bay car park, he said. The costs of security and parking, as well as the clean-up, would be borne by the organisers in the future, he said.

But the resident said the partying went on until 5 a.m. and when he went for an early morning swim at 6.30 he met Park Rangers fishing empty bottles out of the ocean.

"There were dozens of beer bottles and by 7 a.m. the tourists were down on the beach taking photographs,'' he said. How can Government be mixed up in that? We have visitors who come to Bermuda for this beach.''