Applications Board this week refused an application to subdivide property next to Cameron House near Warwick Pond on Middle Road.

The application, to create three additional lots, was made by Mr. Richard Spurling on behalf of the C.W. Kempe Settlement of which he is trustee.

Agent Mr. Ian Waddington yesterday said the DAB's refusal "staggered'' him.

Mr. Waddington said the plans, sent to the DAB last June, had been completely changed following objections by Government Conservation Officer Dr. David Wingate and resubmitted five months later.

He accused the DAB of being "inconsistent'' in its decisions concerning applications for subdivisions.

"They pick and choose,'' he charged. "If they are going to refuse one subdivision on the grounds it is `premature', then they should refuse all of them, but they don't -- it just depends on their mood, not whether the property is very wooded or is open grassland.'' Mr. Waddington said he and Mr. Spurling are appealing the decision to the Environment Minister the Hon. Ann Cartwright DeCouto.

The DAB stated the application was refused because it was "premature and contrary to public interest'', and it formed a "strategically important tract of land which in its existing predominantly undeveloped state, is of major landscape and habitat importance''.

"The subdivision would be detrimental to the character and amenities of the area,'' board members said.

The DAB also refused an application by Mr. Nelson Hunt to change the use of his general warehouse on Khyber Pass in Warwick to an outlet selling food wholesale.

The board's reasons were that there wasn't safe access to the proposed development taking into consideration the increase in traffic which would be generated by food sales. It also said the store would be "detrimental to the amenity of the surrounding area'', with delivery trucks coming and going and food smells.