Furious residents have threatened to boycott the Enterprise Grocery store following its liquor licence victory.

The boycott would also include the MarketPlace, which owns the Hamilton Parish store.

Many residents fear the area will become a haunt for litter louts and drunken troublemakers.

Fury has erupted after the Supreme Court on Wednesday overturned the decision of the Liquor Licensing Authority to refuse a licence. The store had argued on appeal it had not been treated fairly.

Other businesses granted licences had been at the centre of far more serious protests, claimed the store's lawyer Mr. Michael Mello.

The worst protests against the store were "offensive words and conduct, litter, and maybe property damage,'' he argued.

This contrasted with complaints of assaults, theft, and attempted rape fired at other businesses granted licences.

Chief Justice the Hon. Sir James Astwood agreed to grant the licence.

Yesterday Ms Renee Webb, PLP candidate for Hamilton East, claimed she had been flooded with protests from outraged residents.

And some had threatened to boycott the store and the MarketPlace.

"A number of residents are furious. I have been inundated with calls,'' said Ms Webb.

She said she sympathised with the protesters, many of whom come from the Duck's Puddle condominium complex.

"I think there are a number of issues. The store is not in a business area, and there is very little parking there. I am definitely against it. We do not want to have every corner store selling liquor.'' Ms Webb said many residents felt their objections over the licence had counted for nothing. "There's a feeling it's big business against the little guys.'' A couple living within 100 yards of the store, Mr. and Mrs. Randy Horton, last night voiced outrage at the Supreme Court decision.

"We feel there are plenty of liquor stores already in the area, and don't need another one,'' said Mr. Horton.

He said while the store was without a licence the litter problem in the area had disappeared.

"We used to have a serious problem with bottles being thrown.'' The couple also fear drink-related crime will become a big problem.

"I'm not sure of the legal procedure, but we are going to look at everything that can be done.'' Last night Mr. Michael Beckles, president of the Duck's Puddle Condominium Association, said he was disappointed by the court ruling.

"We did a pool of the residents in Duck's Puddle and the majority were against Enterprise Grocery getting the liquor licence.'' Mr. Beckles said residents feared a licence would lead to loiterers in the area, littering, and unruly behaviour. But he was unsure what action the association would, or could, take.