Devonshire residents angry at plans to build more housing in their area came face to face to with Housing Minister Ashfield DeVent at a relatively subdued public meeting last night.

Mr. DeVent told the gathering at CedarBridge he had urged Bermuda Housing Corporation to reduce their plans for 34 units on Alexandra and Mary Victoria units to around 20.

Last month the realisation that Government was pushing ahead with the plan, which had earlier been withdrawn, had led to residents saying he had flouted his promise to consult them.

Concerns were raised that park land would be lost to the new development.

The meeting was called by Devonshire MP Glenn Blakeney for his constituents.

Fellow Devonshire MP Paula Cox was also invited and said Government was opposed to putting the new hospital at the Arboretum ? which is one of the options being floated by the Bermuda Hospitals Board.

She said the area was already overloaded with amenities.