Plans for a controversial composting plant at the former US Naval Base have been thrown on the dung heap.

And proposals for a drug rehabilitation centre have also been scrapped, weeks after waves of public protests.

The Bermuda Land Development Company wanted US-based Bioferm to build the environmental plant to create soil out of compost waste.

But it emerged last night that the project had been abandoned after negotiations broke down.

BLDC chiefs also revealed that the rehab hostel -- for alcoholics and drug users -- was also off the agenda after the Salvation Army opted against pushing for the development.

St. David's residents raised their composting fears at a question-and-answer session with bosses from Bioferm earlier this year.

They also met with Salvation Army officials who were pushing for the rehabilitation centre to be built along the same lines as the Harbour Lights programme.

Carl Musson, BLDC's chief executive officer, said last night: "We are no longer negotiating with Bioferm and I will not give an official reason because they were confidential negotiations.

"We are no longer in negotiations with the Salvation Army either. We were unable to reach agreement and we cannot comment on the specifics.

"But we have probably had negotiations with several people that have not come to fruition and I think it would be incorrect to say this is because of public fears.

"The public did have fears but we do encourage proposed developers to make presentations to local residents.'' New Hampshire company Bioferm said its hi-tech "in-vessel'' composting system would create high-grade soil in eight days without obnoxious smells or problems with vermin.

But locals said they were still worried about the environmental problems posed by the proposed plant.

One group met with former Government Whip and St. George's South MP Rick Spurling, who agreed to champion their cause.

Plans scrapped for plant Several residents also voiced their fears about the rehabilitation centre.

Mr. Spurling said last night: "I don't know the specifics but I met with Bioferm months ago and mounted a fair amount of resistance on behalf of my constituents in the area.

"They had considerable concerns about where the plant was going to be placed on the eastern end of proposed parkland.

"We convinced the BLDC at the time to agree that it should not be there, and if anywhere, it should be in an industrial zone.'' BLDC encouraged the firm to apply for planning permission to relocate to a designated industrial area near the airfield, instead of its original proposal for Andrew's Drive.

But Mr. Spurling added: "More and more was found out about the process and the noise that would be created.

"There were also concerns about whether raw sewage would be used or just food produce and debris. People were worried about smells, rodents and everything else that comes with something like that.

"The Salvation Army rehabilitation unit has also been taken off the front-burner and as far as I am aware, that proposal has also now been dropped.'' GOVERNMENT GVT