was very good news indeed for conservationists. It is a triumph for Ann Cartwright DeCouto and Trevor Moniz and the rest of "The Five'' rebel UBP MPs who fought for the Prohibited Restaurants Act along with the great majority of Progressive Labour Party MPs. It is a serious rebuke for the Senate, especially those Independent members who should have protected Bermuda.

Most people will hope that this is the end of a long and disruptive fight which was never in Bermuda's best interests. During the Court of Appeal hearing there was some considerable dread in Bermuda because it looked as if Grape Bay Limited might win.

There is, of course, still the possibility that the Privy Council in London could receive an appeal but such appeals are very time consuming and expensive. Lawyers love them because they get rich but Grape Bay Limited is now faced with their own high legal costs plus the costs of the Attorney General's Department which were awarded against Grape Bay by the Court of Appeal.

Allowing fast food franchises with their North American image into Bermuda's unique and protected environment would have been hard fought if franchises had been the only issue. But because of the Principals involved in Grape Bay Limited, McDonald's took on controversial political aspects.

The fact that the United Bermuda Party Government agreed to McDonald's operated by a former UBP Premier and a sitting MP was seriously damaging to the UBP. The idea of McDonald's followed quickly by other fast food franchises destroying Bermuda's ambiance as we have always known it was anathema to a great many people. When you add to that the fact that it was likely to put out of business any number of small Bermudian operated restaurants, the whole idea was dynamite.

During the controversy, this newspaper was criticised for spending too much time and two much space on the McDonald's issue but we saw it as a milestone which would mark the beginning of the end of Bermuda as a unique Country with its own distinct environment. It was hard to imagine McDonald's welcoming visitors at the Airport and bidding them farewell. Perhaps the Minister of Transport can finally sort out the Airport restaurants and cater properly to passengers. We can only hope now that the principals will let the matter rest.

Parliament has spoken. The local courts have spoken. If the polls are to be believed the great majority of Bermudians do not want fast food franchises in Bermuda. Add to that the large number of visitors who have written letters to the Editor warning of the dangers to Bermuda of a North American urban sprawl.