Environmental campaigner Stuart Hayward has criticised the timing of two planning applications submitted just before Christmas.

Mr. Hayward, chairman of the Bermuda Environmental and Sustainability Taskforce (BEST), said the holiday period meant people had little time to study the proposals and object.

He criticised applications by Elbow Beach hotel and Wedco (West End Development Corporation), which were advertised in the Official Gazette on December 18.

"For many years now we've noticed that some of the timings of these applications are such that they appear a day or two before Christmas," said Mr. Hayward.

"This year has been no exception. For the Elbow Beach and Wedco applications, the responses have to be received by January 1. It means people don't have many days to visit the Department of Planning to find out more about them."

He said: "People should be given a fair opportunity to examine these applications and decide if they're going to object or not."

At Elbow Beach, a new canteen and storage building is proposed at Cafe Lido, plus a canopy over the service area, a new storm water and retention works with two boreholes.

In the West End, Wedco has submitted a retroactive planning application to convert the pavilion at Dockyard Terrace into a Visitors Information Centre.

Anyone wishing to object to either proposal must submit their response to the Department of Planning by January 1.