Government remained silent yesterday over why roadworks went ahead in a national park without the necessary planning permission.

This newspaper is still awaiting answers to questions dating back to November 27 as to why works went ahead at Coney Island Road, and what action will be taken to rectify the situation.

The Development Applications Board (DAB) criticised the Ministry of Works and Engineering in November for its "blatant disregard for the planning process", as it refused a retroactive application for a road realignment and landfill at Grotto Bay.

The works, undertaken in spring of last year to expand Bailey's Bay Cricket Club, have impinged on both national parkland and coastal reserve. Planning officials criticised the roadworks as contrary to the Draft Bermuda Plan 2008, as the site in Wilkinson Memorial Park is protected under the National Parks Act 1986.

It also said the placement of landfill at Grotto Bay was contrary to the Draft Bermuda Plan as it "causes detrimental damage to the biological and ecological features in the area" and "is detrimental to marine and coastal environment in the locality".

In refusing the application, the DAB said: "The Development Applications Board wishes to advise of its disappointment with the applicant's blatant disregard for the planning process."

The work undertaken – ahead of objections by the Marine Resources Board, National Parks Commission, Bermuda National Trust and criticism by the Department of Conservation Services – also caused some civil servants to question the way in which some Government departments pursued projects.

Said Department of Environmental Protection director Fred Ming in a September 19 e-mail to Planning: "May I suggest that we adopt operational protocols for Government agencies undertaking development projects to avoid future repetition?

"Regardless of what an officer might say, board members become cynical about Government's intentions when this kind of thing happens, and that is not a good thing for the Government."

An earlier e-mail that same day suggests Works and Engineering staff also demolished stonework dating back hundreds of years. Conservation Services director Jack Ward stated: "It does seem to be a huge shame that they destroyed the amazing stonework of the old wall at the site, it could have at least been relocated.

"I'm sorry (surprised really) that it wasn't considered a historic structure like the associated breakwater on Coney Island, it had been there for hundreds of years."

The Planning controversy centres on an application for foreshore repairs along the eastern side of Bailey's Bay Cricket Club field and the realignment of Coney Island Road. Native vegetation has been cleared to make way for the 18ft asphalt road, while landfill has filled in some of the coastland habitat.

Works and Engineering permanent secretary Robert Horton submitted the retroactive application on July 9 on the Ministry's behalf. He said the works were needed "to stabilise the foreshore which has been damaged due to storms" and to widen the club's field.

When technical officers visited the site however, they "learned that the road had already been installed, (and) fill materials were placed in the waters of Grotto Bay just to the north of the cricket field".

The foreshore stabilisation works – yet to be undertaken – were subsequently withdrawn and will be re-submitted in a separate planning application.

The Royal Gazette has asked Government why the roadworks went ahead without permission and consultation with various Government departments. We have also asked what action will be taken to remediate the situation, and whether it is true that Works and Engineering staff have demolished stonework dating back hundreds of years.

We are yet to receive a response.