unfounded yesterday.

Mrs. Marion Simons claims she had heard that the porch and part of her home would have to come down as work continued on the new prison in Dockyard.

But Minister of Works and Engineering the Hon. Ann Cartwright DeCouto said she was mystified to hear of Mrs. Simons' claims.

Mrs. Simons is one of six tenants of Clarence Terrace who will have to be rehoused by September.

Their homes are part of the proposed perimeter of the new prison which will be open to prison officers in the coming months.

Four tenants have already found new homes but the others, backed by the Dockyard Housing Committee are proving more difficult to rehouse.

Although they were paying low rents in Dockyard, some are refusing to budge to properties outside the area or which they believe are unsuitable.

Yesterday Mrs. Simons said she had heard her home was threatened with demolition because work was progressing on the access road to the prison.

"Nothing happened today but I believe that was because the Press were here to take pictures,'' she said.

"Basically I have been told nothing official so any rumours I hear I do not know whether to take them seriously or not. I have lived here for 37 years and they will not tell me anything.'' She added she faces problems finding a new house because she cannot afford the rent without social assistance and one landlord has already told her he will not take tenants who are on social assistance.

Mrs. Simons said: "I was so embarrassed. A lot of places I see in paper belong to this agency so I am having problems finding a place.'' Observing the new prison, Mrs. Simons said: "It looks better than the Sonesta Beach and the Belmont hotels. I would be more comfortable in the prison than I am here.'' In a letter to Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto, the Dockyard Housing Committee said: "We are very much concerned about the recent developments and in particular the imminent threat of demolition of one of our members' homes.

"To date these concerns have been unaddressed and we have received no satisfaction in this regard. In fact the matter seems to have deteriorated and there seems to be no quarter given by the Government.

"The Dockyard Housing Committee believes that, for whatever your reasons, you are misleading the public whether out of ignorance or because you have a callous disregard of the dire consequences your acts and omissions have had on our members.'' The Committee mentioned eight houses were vacant in the Dockyard community but had not been filled due to a communications breakdown between the West End Development Corporation, the Department of Housing and the Minister.

Assistant secretary of the committee Mr. George Crofton said: "I was at Mrs.

Simons' home and the workers did not come near. I do not know whether that was because we were there.'' However the Minister said: "I am mystified. Do you really think we would do anything like this while the lady was still in the house? "I was concerned when I first heard about this the previous night and I have spoken to Wedco and to the Permanent Secretary on a number of occasions to see if it was true.'' Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto said she was surprised the news had come from the Dockyard Housing Association which did not have any representatives of the tenants of Clarence Terrace.

She pointed out the houses in Dockyard belonged to Wedco and may not be available for rent, but could be for sale.

She said: "We have already rehoused four tenants and another is about to be given a house.''