Politicians may be barred from making Planning decisions in a review of that department's policy next year.

Environment Minister Arthur Hodgson revealed this yesterday after Opposition Leader Pam Gordon accused him of getting a colleague to do his dirty work by approving an extension at his church.

The controversial proposal by Crawl Gospel Hall had been rejected several times by planners and independent inspectors.

But last month Acting Environment Minister Nelson Bascome overruled recommendations to block an appeal by the church to extend into 20 feet of nature reserve at the Hamilton Parish site.

Mr. Hodgson had acted as the lawyer for the church and actively pushed for the extension before he became the Environment Minister.

But it had been turned down then by the Development Applications Board and again when a new board was appointed following the election.

Ms Gordon said: "Mr. Hodgson made it clear for a long time that he would get this passed. It's an abuse of process. The best thing he could have done was to take the advice of the independent inspector who doesn't have an axe to grind.'' Editorial: Page 4 Planning appeals Ms Gordon said the application had been rejected several times during her time as Environment Minister.

She said she had an overseas inspector look at the case because of its politically sensitive nature after Mr. Hodgson had become associated with it.

But Mr. Hodgson told The Royal Gazette yesterday: "I was out of the country.

The acting Minister dealt with it. I was the lawyer and it's my church.

"I was in a rather difficult situation. I could defend this decision at a push.'' Mr. Hodgson said politicians might be barred from making Planning decisions in a review of Planning policy next year.

He said: "It is one of the things we will be considering -- to take those decisions out of Ministerial hands.'' However, Ms Gordon said the change was unnecessary.

She said: "We have independent inspectors who take it out of the politicians hands.'' Mr. Hodgson had also been attacked by National Trust Environment Committee chairwoman Edith Martin for overruling inspectors who had rejected a plan by the Crombie Trust to build a house on woodland on North Shore Road, Devonshire.

But Mr. Hodgson said the DAB had to turn it down because the application required rezoning which was outside its remit.

He said: "It's not a question of the Minister overruling the DAB. They are required by law to turn it down. It has to go to the Minister.

"It was a four-acre lot. They wanted a modest accommodation and we required the rest remain as open space.'' ENVIRONMENT ENV