It was reported on Saturday that Hamilton Properties' objection to the Bermuda Financial Centre arrived at the Planning Department too late to be considered.

The Department now says the objection in fact arrived before the November 19 deadline, but due to a clerical error was stamped with the wrong date.

Four small guest properties have banded together to launch a third objection to a proposed $130 million office and hotel complex on the vacant Bermudiana Hotel site, it was learned yesterday.

Calling themselves Hamilton Properties Limited, Horizons Ltd., Rosedon, Royal Palms and Rosemont Guest Apartments submitted a stinging letter of objection to the Planning Department.

Although submitted after the 5 p.m. deadline last Friday, it will still be given to the Development Applications Board for consideration, a planner said.

The proposed Bermuda Financial Centre was "excessive'', "extremely intrusive'' and "not in the public's interest'', the group stated.

Furthermore, the design of the proposed office blocks, hotel and landscaping scheme was poor, they claimed. And there was a potential for traffic "hazards''.

Horizons Ltd. represents Waterloo House hotel opposite the Bermudiana site.

Rosedon is on nearby Pitts Bay Road. And Rosemont and Royal Palms are close by on Rosemont Avenue.

Further grounds cited in the letter submitted by the group's lawyers Appleby, Spurling and Kempe, were that: The proposed development did not provide at least 30 percent of total floor space for residential use as required by Planning rules; The proposed buildings and associated open areas "do not exhibit high standards of design and landscaping''; The massing, design details and materials of buildings and landscaping fronting public roads "do not produce a scale and appearance of a development which is compatible with the Bermuda image''; Traffic provisions are "inadequate'' and could create "traffic conflicts and hazards''; The character and appearance of the development, the privacy provisions to the hotel units and the communal outdoor recreational space and extent and nature of the landscaping was "not satisfactory''.

The hotel group added that there was not enough information submitted to "substantiate the need'' for the proposed office space and 300 hotel rooms.

Until such information was submitted, the proposed development was "premature and not in the public interest'', AS&K wrote.

Though Hamilton Properties' objection was submitted late, it will be forwarded to the DAB for consideration. However, unlike the other objectors, they will not be able to make submissions to the DAB.

AS&K added at the end of the objection: "Having regard to the magnitude and complexity of the proposed development, it is submitted the prescribed 14-day objection period is ... woefully inadequate.'' AS&K said its clients, therefore, would "reserve the right'' to make further submissions or alterations.

Other protests came from the Corporation of Hamilton and a pro-tem objection was received from the Bermuda National Trust.

Trust director Ms Amanda Outerbridge said yesterday members were still going over the plans and no firm decision on whether or not to object had been made.

The Corporation objected to the "staggering'' size of the proposed office blocks and that it would cause businesses to leave Hamilton's office/retail buildings.

There was also concern over a possible "intolerable level'' of road traffic.

But, representing the centre, Mr. Jeffrey Conyers accused the Corporation this week of fear tactics to prevent the creation of Bermuda's "Wall Street''.

"This project is designed to address the clear and definitive needs of Bermuda's international business sector for the future,'' he said.

The complex plans to include three office blocks, a five-star hotel, gift shops, underground parking, executive condos, a 1,000-seat convention centre, health spa.