at an April 26 public inquiry.

The number has been whittled down from an original 1,157 protests.

The hearing into the draft Bermuda Development Plan 1992 will be held in the Cabinet Building.

Four people have been appointed to a tribunal to handle the inquiry.

It will be chaired by Mr. Jack Lightbourn, a former Bank of Bermuda executive.

Tribunal members have been undergoing a "familiarisation'' process to prepare them for the hearing.

It involves recapping background to the plan and learning about the objections and rules for the inquiry.

The Bermuda Plan is aimed at conserving open space, while providing sufficient development potential to meet the community's needs.

It splits Bermuda into development and non-development zones.

Permanent Secretary to the Environment Dr. James Burnett-Herkes said yesterday many objections were of a "technical nature''.

Without a land register, for instance, there was confusion over where boundaries were.

"The vast majority of the objections will be resolved before the inquiry,'' he said.

Scores of objections already provisionally settled have been published, he added.

These will still go before the tribunal, with a recommendation they be accepted.

Details of the objections can be viewed at the Department of Planning.