A planned new service station for Kindley Field Road in St. George's looks set to be rejected by planning officials -- although a controversial development which would see the parish's twelfth church erected is poised to get the green light.

The Royal Gazette has learned that the Development Applications Board (DAB) has been advised to reject an application by Esso Bermuda to build a new service station with underground tanks and pump on Kindley Field Road in St.

George's.

But efforts by Rev. Terence Stovell and his non-denominational Christian movement to erect a new 5000 sq ft church on Barry Road are expected to be approved by the board.

The DAB will convene its weekly meeting this morning and the two applications will be among several up for discussion. A notice listed in the Planning Department offices showed that the Esso application was placed in the `permission refused' category while the church was under the `final approval' heading.

Both developments sparked controversy from local residents. Many St.

Georigians filed objections to the building of an additional church, while the National Trust was the main objector to the new gas station.

The Esso station was to be located on the strip of land across from the Bermuda International Airport and opposite the Bermuda Biological Station.

Conservationists say the land has been zoned for recreational use and is situated across the road from a national park.

The Trust pointed out that the National Park is well used by residents for picnicking and acts as a natural break between Hamilton Parish and the town of St. George's.

A gas station on the site would increase traffic and congestion the Trust claims.

They also said the increased vehicular activity could pose a danger to pedestrians using the park who might cross a busy road to use the convenience store at the garage.

The Trust also pointed out that the land was zoned for recreational use under the St. David's Special Development Zone and held that the proposed development did not fit in this category.

"I don't understand the need for a church that size when the majority of churches are only 40 to 50 percent full,'' was typical of the objections filed by St. George's residents.

Planners to reject gas station? They also questioned whether worshippers who attend Pastor Stovell's sermons at Spice Valley Middle School will want to make the journey to St. George's.

Pastor Stovell has said that his church membership is large and growing, and said that his desire was to build with the prospect of further change in mind.

Other neighbours objected to a possible drug rehabilitation programme that would be set up at the church, claiming that the nearby Woodshop Plus (now closed) had led to increased break-ins.

One objector said: "The location of a number of persons who would be tempted to go back to their previous lifestyles is an open market drawing those who would be tempted to provide the drugs.''