Some progress has been made towards addressing maintenance issues at the Prospect housing complex, residents report.

Residents' anger at Government plans to add 34 more housing units in the low-rent development has subsided for now ? not least because of Housing Minister Ashfield DeVent's decision to withdraw the plans and address long standing maintenance issues before having another attempt at compromise negotiations.

Residents are planning community events and waiting and watching Mr. DeVent's efforts at finding affordable housing elsewhere, neighbourhood organiser Albertha Waite said.

Ms Waite said there had been some signs of movement by the Bermuda Housing Corporation to deal with the maintenance and other issues.

"I see some folks and they look like they are trying to do some things. I've called housing on a few occasions in regards to our concerns. I can see they've made some headway in putting up no loitering signs ? that's been a big concern to some of our seniors."

Loitering in the neighbourhood has abated somewhat, she said.

Residents, backed by the United Bermuda Party, managed to get the application for the plans withdrawn from the Planning Department last month.

With the row on the backburner, the community is planning activities for the neighbourhood such as an Easter Sunday sunrise service, Ms Waite said.

"Our neighbourhood is united and we are beginning to get back on track with some of the things we wanted to do before the Planning application appeared," she said.

"It's not really calm, we're just being cautious. We're still meeting, we're still making our notes as to what we need to do. And I know he (Mr. DeVent) is working on housing people. I've heard a news report where he was appealing to homeowners to turn their apartments over to the Housing Corporation. So I believe in good faith he's trying to do something. So rather than disrespect, we are just to going to continue to watch what he's doing and allow him to do his job and that is to house people that need to have a roof over their heads."

She added: "We haven't won anything ? all we've done is highlight to Government and the Opposition that they need to take another look at our neighbourhood. And that's what they've done."

Mr. DeVent said he wanted to bring something to the table before meeting with the residents.

"At the moment we are just looking to address some of the concerns they had with regards to paving the roads and the lighting situation," he said.

"I didn't want to meet with them until the Housing Corporation had addressed some of the things that have been discussed previously."

He said he was hopeful that the residents would embrace compromise.

"Housing is key at the moment and I'm constantly having to see people that are living in conditions that are not suitable for comfortable living, or living in uncomfortable situations."

Roads will be paved sometime in April, said BHC manager Vance Campbell, subject to Works and Engineering's commitments. He added that electricians had been in the area, and nearby Cedar Park to assess work needing to be done on the lighting.

"We will address the Prospect area first and then move on to Cedar Park," he said.