low cost housing at Southside which this time singles out the area's two MPs for criticism.

Some 442 residents signed the new petition which alleges the Progressive Labour Party MPs for St. George's South, Arthur Pitcher and Rev. Wilbur Lowe, "broke faith'' with them by failing to keep them informed or represent them.

MPs singled out in St. David's petition over Southside housing Last week, The Royal Gazette revealed that another petition, again signed by more than 400 residents, objected to the development of 20 rental homes in Texas Road on the grounds that the area was zoned for community use in a 1996 plan for the future of military bases .

Area residents saw detailed plans for the Bermuda Housing Corporation (BHC) development for the first time at a public meeting last month, by which time planning consent in principle had already been given.

Mr. Pitcher admitted he laid footings at the site before the building consent was received, but stopped when ordered to do so.

The residents are also angry that one fifth of BHC's 100 new low rental houses are to be built at St. David's.

The latest petition stated: "We, the people of St. David's, are deeply hurt and offended by the absence of any prior communication, consultation or representation from our elected members who have broken faith with us.

"While we wish to continue to help resolve the housing problem, as does everyone else in Bermuda, we strongly feel that unfair burden has been placed on the residents of Texas Road.

"We petition the Government of Bermuda to reconsider the plan because it is contrary to the principles of sustainable development.'' The petition was handed in yesterday to Environment Minister Arthur Hodgson, who has championed the concept of sustainable development.

Rev. Lowe was off the Island yesterday, but Mr. Pitcher, who won the contract to build the houses, accused the residents of only looking at one side of the problem.

He said: "All I can say is that in our platform we promised to provide housing for people less fortunate than most and St. David's has the property that is most economical to Government to do this project.

"Myself and the Rev. Lowe have been talking in various capacities to inform people that this is going to happen. If some people didn't get that information, partly it's because they didn't get to meetings or they were the unfortunate ones.

"Quite a few people knew the development was going ahead. I don't claim to have got to all the residents but I got to some.

"In the long term, as more families come to St. David's, the more families will come to Southside and in the long-term St. David's will benefit.

"The people of St. David's now are looking at one side of the equation. They have the right to object. We do have a Planning Department in place and they will act according to the rules and regulations.

"If the Planning Department feel that this is inadequate they will act accordingly.''