period.

The 28 existing and two upcoming stations are adequate for an Island of Bermuda's size, a Planning spokesperson said.

A ban was placed on the construction of auto gas stations almost 20 years ago when there were 25, although only 17 of them could be found on Planning's "accepted list''.

The 17 stations were considered "adequate'' and both petroleum suppliers and Transport and Planning directors agreed at a meeting in October, 1977 that no more auto stations should be permitted.

But since then Planning has allowed four new stations to open to serve only marine trade.

And it recently gave one of them, St. David's Esso, the green light to operate as a marine and land trade station.

So to date, the Development Application Board pointed out at its last meeting, there are 30 approved filling stations on the Island, and 28 of them are operational.

"It is clear that the "accepted list'' has, in some respects, been flawed from the outset,'' the Board noted.

"Additionally, economic circumstances had changed and many marine filling stations were opening for longer hours.'' Therefore, the Board decided using information provided by Planning, the Transport Control Department, and Esso and Shell of Bermuda, a moratorium would be placed on the development of future filling stations "as the current number and distribution satisfies the needs of Bermuda''.

The Planning spokesperson said she believed the move would please existing stations who, due to the number of stations, found it very tough to make a profit.

And Shell Bermuda's marketing manager Mr. Stanley Marshall agreed.