More than 100 St. David?s residents have signed a petition protesting the sale of alcohol at a Clearwater Beach restaurant.

Last month Gombey restaurant owner Marlon Laws announced plans to sell alcohol on the premises to cater for what he believes is an unmet need for beachside entertainment.

But since the announcement St. David?s MP Suzanne Roberts-Holshouser has been circulating a petition protesting the plan.

Mrs. Roberts-Holshouser said she had presented the petition to the Liquor Licensing Board ? which will meet on Friday to make a decision on Mr. Laws? application.

?The users of the beach do not want to see alcohol being served at a location adjacent to a children?s playground,? Mrs. Roberts-Holshouser said yesterday. ?It is not the appropriate thing to do at a family friendly beach. We would like to see Mr. Laws business successful but we are objecting to the sale of all alcohol at this location.?

In a letter to Police Commissioner Jonathan Smith Mrs. Roberts-Holshouser said noise pollution and trash were also concerns amongst residents. ?Residents, particularly those residing along Texas Road, are concerned that any music played after the hours of 12 a.m. will disturb the current quiet ambience enjoyed in the east end of St. David?s,? she stated in her letter opposing the application.

?We have seen island-wide that alcohol distribution has the tendency of bringing undesirable individuals into areas that have previously been considered safe.?

Bermuda Land Development Company has awarded Mr. Laws a five year contract for the site at the edge of the former American military base with the option to renew for five more years.

One St. David?s resident, who did not want to be named, told he had signed the petition but was then approached in a ?rowdy? manner by Mr. Laws who questioning why he had added his signature to the list.

The resident, who has a ten-year-old daughter, said he signed the petition out of concern for the welfare of children in the area.

?The majority of people in the area are objecting to the licence,? he said. ?A number of schools and church groups use the beach for events. We feel very strongly that this is not going to create a good environment at a beach which was one of the only family-friendly beaches in the East End.?

He said the sale of alcohol would attract an unsavoury element to the beach.

Last month Mr. Laws, a 32-year veteran in the hotel industry, said the Island was crying out for a beachside venue with games and live entertainment as well as watersports, food and drink.

Mr. Laws is seeking final planning to build a large oval bar on the site of the skating rink.The whole site, which includes large grassy areas next to the beach, will be able to seat 400 people and Mr. Laws said he already has bookings for large parties. He stressed he was looking for a mature crowd and wanted to stay away from thugs. He aims to put on a live show for cruise ship passengers and promote the venue at local hotels. Mr. Laws, a St. David?s resident, said he had been itching to take on the site and owning the restaurant would represent a dream come true.