A Frog Lane woman angered over noise pollution in her neighbourhood claimed Government was allowing concert organisers to take over the National Stadium.

Athletes were unable to use the track last week because protective barriers laid over it for Maxi Priest's concert had not been removed, she claimed.

"It is time that a decision be made as to whether the Stadium is an entertainment centre or a centre for athletic endeavour,'' Ms Elizabeth Smith said.

But Youth and Sport Minister the Hon. Pamela Gordon said the Stadium was not only for athletic events.

It was a "multi-use'' facility, she said. And it was, in fact, called the Sports Centre.

Though she sympathised with area residents, she said the community had to be more tolerant because of the Island's size.

She added the problem had been amplified by the fact that a record number of concerts had been held at the Stadium this year.

Ms Smith complained of noise pollution in a letter to the newspaper and called on Government to enforce loud music laws and put an end to "continual abuse of noise'' in Bermuda.

"Our quality of life in Bermuda is rapidly diminishing and nobody is doing anything to stop it,'' she said.

Ms Smith claimed people as far away as Fort Hamilton had complained about the volume of the Maxi Priest concert.

The Stadium, on Frog Lane, Devonshire, is the preferred sight for major reggae concerts.

"Government is allowing this abuse to continue, to satisfy the few and seriously perturb the majority,'' Ms Smith said.

"If (the UBP) Government properly followed through with the laws that are in place by demanding that police action be taken when the law is broken, the people abusing the law, example, concert organisers, drivers of cars with loud stereos, operators of tour boats, would recognise that they should consider others and it would not take long before the message was read loud and clear.'' She added, "Surely, with all the comments and publicity that have been aired regarding excess noise, it is clear that it is not in the general public's interest to allow concerts to be held in highly populated areas.'' Ms Smith said she had sent letters of complaint to the Police Commissioner, the Premier, chairman of the trustees of the stadium Mr. Donald Lines, Environment Minister the Hon. Gerald Simons and Youth and Sport Minister the Hon. Pam Gordon.

A Police spokesman said noise laws were actively enforced but the Force's efforts were hampered by a lack of support from the community.

Concert holders, however, were given permits allowing them to play loud music after midnight so their hands were tied, the spokesman said.

For the rest of the community, music after midnight is barred if it can be heard within 100 yards of the property.

"People are always eager to call Police and complain, but unwilling to testify against their neighbours in court,'' he said.