pulled out of the project -- after receiving complaints from more than 50 residents.

Burrows Lightbourn managers hoped to transfer the store's liquor licence to new premises on North Shore Road after the company's old store was forced to close down.

But members of the Flatts Village Development Committee were outraged at the scheme, complaining the store attracted drunks and created litter. They launched a campaign against the store and urged residents to register objections.

Now management have bowed to public pressure and decided not to go ahead with the plan.

Managing director Richard Hartley did not rule out a liquor store opening up at some time in the future -- but added that it would only be done after further consultations with local residents.

Mr. Hartley said: "We have had a lot of objections. What's happened here is that people have believed that the new store will be a continuation of the existing Flatts Liquor store.

"I tried to make that point to W.A. (Toppy) Cowen but he said that the objections were very strong and from a wide group of people who are concerned not just about liquor but traffic and noise and all sorts of other things.

"There was very little time to lobby the people and express to them what we wanted to do with the new premises.

"We also have to make sure that anything we do is a viable option. There's no point in having a store if it's not viable.

"We could have gone down there and battled away but because of the objections we didn't want to do that -- we didn't want to go against public opinion.

"The application was to create a small, speciality wine shop which we think would have enhanced the area but people thought it was going to be a typical liquor store selling cold beers and miniatures -- that is a misconception but we don't want to get into a battle.

"It's very difficult to start policing the area and to choose who to serve and who not to serve. If people are drinking in public then that's a Police matter and something they have to address.'' A statement from the firm's lawyer, Juliana Jack, read: "The proposed store was to be nothing like the store which our client has been operating at Flatts Liquors for some 20 years -- no single beers or miniatures were going to be sold, the store was to be much smaller and easier to control and it has parking facilities.

"In the same time the application for a transfer was advertised however, our client has received 13 letters of objection from over 50 individuals.

"Our client, who prides itself as a responsible corporate citizen and who has been in the business of serving the people of Bermuda for nearly 200 years, has no desire to offend either the neighbours of Flatts Village or the people of Bermuda in general.'' Flatts Village Development Committee co-chairman Toppy Cowen was almost speechless when The Royal Gazette broke the news to him last night.

"We really appreciate what Burrows Lightbourn have done and I applaud their decision -- I would like to sincerely thank Mr. Hartley -- it's wonderful news.

"I have had some discussions with Mr. Hartley regarding his proposals and he has my sympathy but we also had our concerns that the same problems would occur with the new store.''