Angry residents blocked access to their neighbourhood with cars and cycles yesterday morning in protest of a growing number of heavy construction vehicles travelling along their narrow road to reach a building site.

The residents said there was another right-of-way to the new housing development, but it was near a home owned by developer Eddie DeMello. The residents from Riviera Crescent in Southampton said their main concerns were about traffic and overcrowding in the area, which they claimed was already crowded.

Resident Barclay Carmichael said there was another right-of-way into the area, but claimed that Mr. DeMello did not want to use it because it was near to one of his larger homes. Mr. Carmichael said that he and residents met with the Environment Minister Dennis Lister last Monday to discuss the situation and to present a petition.

"All residents need to band together because there are building proposals all over the Island and we are all fighting separately," said Mr. Carmichael. "When the Department of Planning puts out a notice in the paper, the developers and everyone involved in the process have had ten or 15 years working on a project, and we the public are only allowed 14 days to respond.

"For us, it is the impact that the traffic will have on us - and with thoughts on the future - it is whether my grandson will be able to walk safely up the street or not."

But Mr. Carmichael said the residents were also concerned about the number of new houses in the Riviera Estate.

He added: "Overcrowded neighbourhoods change the mindset of the people.

"Are they trying to create a high level ghetto? And, if so, why?

"And they had an alternative right of way to access the property. Why do they need to use this road?"

Mr. Carmichael called on residents in several areas of the Island who are faced with similar situations to come together as a single unit.

"Residents from the Bostock Hill area, neighbours on North Shore Road, near the proposed building of the Church of God's high rise parking block, neighbours of the Sonesta Resort and Lighthouse Hill areas all need to band together to fight what we see as injustices," he said.

"This is not only about our quality of life, but for the quality of life for future generations."

In October last year, Mr. DeMello received planning permission to build 12 two-bedroom units in three blocks on the Riviera Estate, beneath the Fairmont Southampton Hotel.

During this time the Department of Planning said it received no objections to the project, and that it only received objections after Mr. DeMello had received a building permit.

When contacted yesterday afternoon, Mr. DeMello said he had no comment to make on the issue.

But the Department of Planning yesterday said that because there was no objections to the development, or concerns raised during the planning process, it could do nothing at this point.

"No objections were received during the planning process," said Director of Planning Rudolf Hollis.

"Minister of the Environment Terry Lister could make reparations if he sees fit, but from what I can see, there is no reason for it. There were no objections made and the planning permit was issued at that point. It has nothing to do with the Department of Planning, it is a legal argument.

"The residents can apply for an injunction and the matter will have to be dealt with in the courts. It is due process, it was advertised and they did not object within the 14 days.

"If they had objected it could have been dealt with by our technical officer, but now it is a civil matter."

Police spokesman Robin Simmons said police officers went to the road block and spoke with residents.

He said: "The Police officers arrived at the scene at 1.20 p.m. and they spoke to the protesters and asked them to un-block the road. All was quiet when the officers left the scene."