into a commercial enterprise has been delayed by neighbours protesting over horse manure and other alleged hassles.

DAB members resolved late last month to defer a ruling on Mr. Michael DeCosta's bid to convert the Inwood Stables on Radnor Road so a site visit could be arranged for October 30.

The site, on which Mr. DeCosta is proposing to establish a riding school and commercial rental outfit, currently consists of some 20 domestic stables on several acres of property. The land is zoned as rural/agricultural.

His representative at the hearing, Ms Anna Eatherley, told the Board that the plan does not involve the creation of additional stalls and has garnered the tentative approval of the Agriculture and Fisheries Department, the Government Veterinary Officer and the Health Department. She added that students of the riding school would be limited to six on weekday afternoons, eight on weekday evenings and a maximum of twelve a day during the summer.

But that hasn't been enough to convince nearby residents, who have expressed a number of worries over the proposed conversion.

In a 22-signature petition, members of the Radnor Estate Association outlined a variety of concerns to both Mr. DeCosta and the Board, including manure smells, increased noise and the dust that is expected to be created by the exercising of the horses.

Radnor Estate Road resident Mr. Nelson Smith, who filed a separate objection, also voiced a protest about the stink that would presumably emanate from a proposed reverse osmosis plant.

In reply, Ms Eatherley has responded that Mr. DeCosta plans to combat the dust problem by putting a hibiscus hedge along the site's boundary and a row of spice trees to keep dust from drifting to nearby properties from the trotting areas. She added that the smell would be contained by daily cleaning of the stalls and the composting of manure and that noise would be controlled by restricting the hours of operation.

A decision on the matter is expected soon.