work on new houses at Southside before receiving permission because the Planning Department does not think it is a serious offence.

Mr. Pitcher, whose firm won the contract to build the new homes, admitted that he "jumped the gun'' by sinking footings at a site on Texas Road, where the Bermuda Housing Corporation (BHC) wants to build 20 low cost housing units, before building permission was granted.

Mr. Pitcher, the local PLP MP, said speed was of the essence because it was hoped to house the families by Christmas, but he stopped work when the BHC ordered him to. A Planning Department inspector visited the site yesterday to assess the work. Serious offences of building without a permit are punishable by fines of up to $25,000.

But a Government Information Services spokesman said the offence was not considered serious enough for enforcement action.

"It's unlikely he is going to be the subject of any tremendous angry enforcement action. He has stopped work and will wait until the Planning Board has dealt with it for approval,'' said the spokesman. "It is not as serious as it first seemed. When he did the work there was a planning application in, ie permission had been applied for. The work was not that serious, he had put in fittings for one unit.'' St. David's residents, who saw the detailed plans for the first time at a public meeting last week, feel the project, which has approval in principle, is being rushed through without proper consultation.

GOVERNMENT GVT HOUSING HSG