Government Minister Wayne Perinchief last night threw his support behind residents fighting Belco's plans for two new power stations.

Mr. Perinchief joined campaigners including environmentalist Stuart Hayward in urging as many protesters as possible to send letters of objection to Government by today's 5 p.m. deadline.

The 23-year $200 million development has come under fire from residents who complain about noise and air pollution about the existing site and fear the expansion would make matters even worse.

Mr. Perinchief, the Progressive Labour Party candidate for Pembroke Central, Belco's constituency, told a meeting of a few dozen protesters at Hamilton Cathedral Hall last night: "I live in the area and have been brought up in the area. I feel that (the extension) is the wrong thing to do."

The Community and Cultural Affairs Minister said he had tried but failed to get an extension to today's deadline for objections.

Speaking to The Royal Gazette, Mr. Perinchief said: "I object to Belco's expansion unequivocally. I'm supporting the citizens who object."

He said grounds for complaint included overdevelopment in an already highly polluted environment, and an increase in noise, pollution of air and water, and traffic.

Asked what influence he could have over Government's final decision, Mr. Perinchief said: "I sit in Cabinet, or at least I hope to. That's one vote of approval they won't get. I will be a very strong lobbyist against it with the citizens of the area.

"As many people as possible should deliver letters of objection to Government."

He said Government had not yet taken a decision for or against the plan because it was to go through the planning process.

Other residents to air their thoughts included Leslie Stowe, of Mount Hill, who said Belco's need to expand was brought on because too many permits were being handed out for construction work.

"Everybody is going to need electricity. It's absolutely ludicrous. This here is a quick fix. Belco wants to do this because they are desperate," he said.

Lucy Willitts, from Mount Langton, said alternative sites should be found, such as Southside.

"It's in our back yard and it's our health, but it's a national thing," she said. "Bermuda should be sitting here and saying this has to be located somewhere else."

One man pointed to environmentalist Tim Miller's attempt to install a horizontal wind turbine at his Grade Two-listed home in Harbour Road, Warwick, which was rejected on aesthetic grounds.

"I would like to invite them over to my home to have a look at the twin towers and I will show them what unsightly is," said the man.

Many residents were keen to point out they were not a NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) crowd — and it seems a more appropriate acronym may in fact be NIMFY (Not In My Front Yard).

Mount Hill resident James Hallett, who led the meeting, explained: "We often hear about the NIMBY syndrome. This is actually our front yard."

"This is not a case of NIMBY," said Judith Wadson. "This elephant has been in our front yard for decades and it's about time other areas shared the burden.

"We have to tolerate the smoke and bad smells, we have to check which way the wind blows before hanging out our washing, we have to replace window screens more frequently on the Belco side of our houses.

"And now that Belco wants to add three more smokestacks to the two we already have, we're going to be faced with more than double the trouble. That's not fair."

Belco's proposed North and South power stations would add another three emissions stacks to the skyline, with Belco saying they would be taller than the present stacks to reduce pollution.

The project will involve the closure of Cemetery Road for a minimum of nine years.

Calling for people to deliver letters to the Department of Planning in Government's Administration Building before 5 p.m. today, Mr. Hayward said: "This is not going to go through without a fight. I encourage everyone of you to submit some form of objection. The more objections there are, the more the planning process will take notice of us."