permission to create "the largest and most modern'' concrete block plant in Bermuda.

They say it will prevent builders having to import concrete block in the event Beirman's Concrete Products loses its court battle to continue operations at its Rocky Heights Quarry.

"If Bierman's goes out of business, we'd take the view that it was incumbent upon Wilkinson's Quarry to make sure Bermuda does not suffer a shortage of concrete block and has to resort to importing it,'' Wilkinson planning consultant Mr. David Summers said this week.

"But if Bierman's continues, it will be no problem. There is still a demand for concrete products.'' The only other concrete block plant in Bermuda belongs to SAL in Southampton.

SAL would run the concrete block plant if approval was given, Mr. Summers said.

Wilkinson Estates Ltd. had applied in May to create a concrete block plant at its Coney Island quarry.

But the Development Applications Board yesterday deferred the application, saying insufficient information had been provided and the proposal needed to be advertised.

Mr. Summers said the plant would be located deep in the quarry and concrete making equipment housed in a building.

"It will be very quiet and nobody will see it,'' he said.

Wilkinson had not applied to create a concrete plant before as there would not have been enough space because the quarry level was too high.

But it was at the right level now, he said.

If the DAB approved the plant, it would replace Bierman's as the Island's largest concrete products firm.

Bierman's is awaiting a Supreme Court decision on whether it can continue to operate at Rocky Heights, which is in a residential area in Smith's Parish.

Government argued the firm had finished work at the quarry and must leave because it has no use rights to the site. Residents were complaining about noise and dust from the site.

But Bierman's said it had sold concrete from the plant since the 1950s and Government had never tried to shut it down.

It claimed it did have use rights to the site and argued that if it was forced to close, construction costs would soar with builders having to import concrete block.