break a moratorium on any new gasoline stations.

Department director Mr. Erwin Adderley said his officers are re-evaluating the moratorium in light of an application for a station in St. David's by Mr.

Peter Pitcher.

Their work, he said, does not warrant the accusation fired by Shell chief Mr.

Bob Stewart that it is working methodically to break the moratorium.

"Mr. Pitcher's application is on its way to the Development Applications Board,'' Mr. Adderley said. "We are gathering information for a recommendation to the Board.

But the Planning chief did indicate the Department recognised a need for a gasoline station in St. David's.

He said the moratorium list "is something that is constantly reviewed. "What we're doing as a result of Mr. Pitcher's application is re-evaluating and assessing the list.

"Bearing in mind St. David's is isolated and that it doesn't have a land filling station, that will weigh in our recommendations.'' Mr. Stewart had argued that the Planning Department appeared to want to end the moratorium though it had not explained why when asked by Shell.

"It seems to us that Bermuda has more than sufficient service stations,'' Mr.

Stewart said this week. "Nobody has to worry about being any distance from a gas station.'' Mr. Pitcher operates a marine station on St. David's Road. Mr. Stewart said the station has been used to sell gasoline to road users. Such action, he said, was a "subterfuge'' to create leverage to win approval for his station.

Mr. Adderley said the National Trust had withdrawn its objection to the Pitcher application, contrary to Mr. Stewart's assertion that the Trust was with Shell in its opposition.

Government instituted the restricted gasoline station list in 1977. Mr.

Adderley said it had been changed since then as a result of station applications.

The number of stations has grown from 16 to 22. Much of that growth stemmed from marine stations like Mr. Pitcher's expanding into land service.

Esso and Shell currently represent 11 stations each. Mr. Pitcher purchases his gasoline from Esso.