owner Mr. Colin Curtis' letters concerning opposition to the Wilkinson Quarry expansion.

His staff had replied to Mr. Curtis' September, 1993 letter, the Hon. Gerald Simons said this week.

And he subsequently held meetings with the Baileys Bay businessman over the issue.

Those meetings showed there were "clear misunderstandings'' on Mr. Curtis' part, the Minister said.

Among them was that Planning Department officials and Mr. Curtis did not agree on the extent of the proposed quarrying operation. Mr. Curtis believed the quarrying would lower a hill on the site far more than Planners did.

As a result, Mr. Simons said he gave Mr. Curtis an undertaking to bring opponents and operators of the quarry together to go over the plans and report their findings to him, he said.

Cave expert Mr. Robert Powers had also carried out further explorations of Admiral's Cave and was coordinating his survey with the quarry's which was carried out by Bermuda Caribbean Engineering Consultants.

"I as Minister am currently awaiting the results of both sets of discussions before going any further,'' Mr. Simons said.

"I was surprised and somewhat dismayed by statements attributed to Mr. Colin Curtis that he intended to `force' the issue of my alleged failure to reply to his letter.

"I am as concerned as anyone over the preservation of Admiral's Cave and would not hesitate to enforce the conditions that have been placed on the projects.'' Mr. Simons said he hoped the row could be worked out between the opponents and the quarry operators.

Mr. Curtis and other Hamilton Parish residents who oppose the planned expansion are this week planning to hand a petition with more than 100 signatures to Mr. Simons in a desperate bid to stop it.

Mr. Curtis, cave explorers, conservationists, Ducks Puddle condo owners and other residents are hoping Mr. Simons will revoke the quarry owners' permission to expand.

"It is an appalling thing that will destroy Bermuda for no reason whatsoever and we are vehemently opposed to it,'' Mr. Curtis said.

Concerns include: Increased dust, noise and traffic; Intrusion onto popular Admiral's Cave; Destruction of open space; and Potential for wind damage in the area of the Perfume Factory.

Wilkinson Quarry, operated by Island Quarry whose manager is Mr. Colin Burrows, said last year that it planned to go ahead with the expansion when it found an inaccuracy in the zonings of the property under the new Development Plan.

In the mid-80s, the Development Applications Board had rejected Wilkinson Quarry's (operated by Island Quarry) application to expand.

But then-Environment Minister the Hon. Ann Cartwright DeCouto granted permission on appeal.

The inaccuracy was straightened out in accordance with her permission after being advertised.