Development and Planning Act to allow more time for objections to be heard.

Mr. Simons made the disclosure yesterday after tabling legislation to the House of Assembly last Friday to extend the life of the controversial new Bermuda Plan.

He has been unable to present the plan to Parliament for approval because there are still hundreds of objections left to be heard by the Planning tribunal.

"Some 1,150 objections were received to the draft plan,'' Mr. Simons said.

"More than 800 have been resolved by the Planning tribunal, worked out between the objector and Planning Department, or withdrawn.'' However, there are still 350 to be heard.

"The draft plan was operative on July 3, 1992 and the period of objection was extended by three months. Now we have had to extend the period for hearing those objections to allow sufficient time for them all to be heard. We did not want to rush through them.'' Rather than having to bring legislation to the House every time the situation arises in the future, he said, "Maybe we should amend the Planning Act to allow for a period longer than 18 months for objections to be heard.'' The Bermuda Plan 1992 Extension Bill 1993 sought to extend the validity of the Bermuda Plan 1992 until July 2, 1994 -- six months beyond the regular date.

The Bermuda Plan 1992 was published by the Environment Ministry on July 3 1992 and became operative immediately.

It can continue to be operative as a development plan, without the approval of Parliament, for up to 18 months.

But if Parliament's approval is not secured before the expiry of that period, which will be January 1994, the plan will become "null and void'', Mr. Simons said.