Government will seek a compromise with St. David's residents over a planned low-cost housing complex at Southside, The Royal Gazette has learned.

St. George's South MP Arthur Pitcher said on Friday that he, Health and Social Services Minister Nelson Bascome and Bermuda Housing Corporation (BHC) chief executive officer Raymonde Dill will meet with residents over the next few weeks in an effort to come to an agreement.

Despite this, a spokesperson for Southside residents said they would still appeal the Development Applications Board's (DAB) recent decision to grant the BHC planning permission for the 20 homes on Texas Road.

While the woman, who asked not to be named, welcomed Mr. Pitcher's comments, she said: "To be honest, I don't believe much will happen based on his previous record.'' The DAB's decision came despite two petitions, bearing 200 and 442 signatures each, voicing residents' objections.

Mr. Pitcher said: "We will be meeting with Minister Bascome and Mr. Dill in due course to try and work out what can be done and then we'll talk with the residents to see if we can work out a compromise.

Asked what form the meeting would take, he said: "I wouldn't rule out another public meeting.'' And asked what the settlement would likely entail, Mr. Pitcher said: "I'd rather not discuss that at this point but, suffice to say, we will be trying to address the issues raised by the community.'' At a public meeting last month, residents expressed fears that the introduction of so many new people to the area would mean an increase in crime and impact negatively on their "way of life''.

They also disagreed with the plans on the grounds that the area was zoned for community use in a 1996 plan for the future use of the military bases and because they felt the congestion of 20 houses in such a small area would create a "high-density ghetto''.

Mr. Pitcher said: "This Government does tend to listen. We know we can't please everyone, but we will try to please the majority of people.'' He restated his "strong commitment'' to providing Bermuda with affordable housing.

"I'm getting calls everyday from people who need somewhere to stay and I'm going to try and put them, in particular those with St. David's connections, first.'' Government to seek housing compromise He made clear his belief that an agreement suitable for all parties could be reached.

"But a compromise will depend a lot on what the residents are prepared to give of themselves,'' he added. "This is a give-a-bit, take-a-bit procedure.'' Most residents only saw detailed plans for the Texas Road development at a public meeting last May.

The 442-name petition singled out Mr. Pitcher and his running mate Rev. Wilbur (Larry) Lowe Jr. as having "broken faith'' with constituents by failing to keep them informed.

The St. David's resident said: "I hope Mr. Pitcher is true to his word and that he will follow through.

"I don't have much faith that Mr. Pitcher actually has a vested interest in what we want.'' She added that she felt he had "a definite conflict of interests'' in being both an area MP and a contract-holder with the BHC.

"He should never have received the job (to build the houses) in the first place and I'm disappointed that Government didn't recognise that right from the beginning,'' she said.

Asked if he felt being a BHC contractor affected his ability to represent his constituents effectively, Mr. Pitcher said: "That is far from the truth.'' Mr. Bascome refused to speak with The Royal Gazette on Friday but Shadow Health and Social Services Minister Kim Young welcomed the news.

She said: "I think the ones who should be commended in this are the St.

David's residents for sticking with what they believe in.

"The United Bermuda Party has always believed that any low-cost housing projects should be spread out across the Island rather than concentrated in a few certain areas.'' She suggested that, instead of 20 homes being built at Texas Road, five to ten units should be built there and another group somewhere else.