Government says it will press on with a compulsory purchase order to acquire land from Gibbons Company in order to kick-start delayed roadworks at Collector?s Hill.

However, according to the company, which owns the land associated with the car park of the A1 Fine Foods Market near the junction with South Road, negotiations are still active.

Works Engineering and Housing Minister David Burch had previously named July 21 as ?D-Day? for proceeding with the order to acquire the land and begin road widening work.

Yesterday, he said although financial settlements have been reached with five other landowners, negotiations with Gibbons Company had failed because ?they wanted ten times more than we have paid everybody else?.

Now, said the Minister, the Attorney General?s chambers has been asked to draft the compulsory purchase order. Once this has been done, there is a 21-day period before action can be taken on.

However, James Gibbons, director of Gibbons Management Services, said last night it was still anticipated that a financial settlement would be reached, thus avoiding a compulsory purchase order.

He said representatives were involved in negotiations with the Government yesterday at the same time as Sen. Burch was speaking to about the topic. The company is waiting for an official response from the Ministry to its written offer but understands that it is being looked upon favourably.

?We think it?s very reasonable,? he said.

Mr. Gibbons added that there was no doubt that the work was needed as soon as possible. But, he said, the impact of the land sale on tenants and on the future development of the site were key issues that must be considered.

?It?s not a question of greed or profit maximisation,? he stressed.

Under the terms of a compulsory purchase order, the measure must be publicised and the owners of the land given opportunity to agree a compensation sum with the Ministry. If no agreement is reached, the matter would go to arbitration.

Sen. Burch did not respond to requests for further comment in the light of Mr. Gibbon?s remarks.