Alexandra and Mary Victoria Road residents have been given until August 10 to review plans for a new housing development in their neighbourhood, as the Environment Ministry last week bowed to pressure for the deadline to be extended.

Residents? spokesman Albertha Waite had cried foul after a letter from the Department of Planning dated July 5, which gave them 14 days from the letter date to make known any objections they might have, did not arrive in mailboxes until Friday, July 22 ? three days after the original deadline. Although written on July 5, the letter was not in fact sent until seven days later and on Friday last week, representatives from the area went to the Department of Planning to demand an additional 14 days to consider the proposals in detail.

However, an Environment Ministry spokesman confirmed this week that ?logistical difficulties? in getting the letter out in a ?timely manner? to a large number of houses in the area was the reason behind the delay.

The spokesman added that Environment Minister Neletha Butterfield was satisfied the residents? grievance was justified and had readily acceded to their request. The row between area residents and Government over the planned housing project has been a long-running saga, particularly following allegations that Housing Minister Ashfield DeVent had failed to fulfil his pledge to consult widely in the neighbourhood before making an application for planning approval ? a conflict which prompted a bitter clash in the House of Assembly with the entire Opposition ultimately storming out of the chamber in disgust.

But while Mr. DeVent has strenuously denied any wrongdoing and with Government successfully stifling a motion of censure against the Housing Minister in the House earlier this month, understands that the majority of residents are still enormously bitter over the whole episode.