Government is spending $340,000 on 15 parking spaces for Members of Parliament.

The bays, outside the House of Assembly, are being constructed by Landmark Construction at a price of $22,666 each.

Kevin Horsfield of Horsfield Landscape and Design Ltd. said yesterday that Landmark Construction won the bid to build the Sessions House parking lot and retaining wall for $340,000 ? despite the fact that Mr. Horsefield had submitted a lower bid.

?The Sessions House project really upsets me,? Mr. Horsfield said.

?I made a bid on the project,? he said. ?It was quite a bit less. But I was not able to do the job. I already had Berkeley school and I would be stretched too thin to take the job.?

Mr. Horsfield said several construction companies put in a bid to build the parking lot.

?Ours was considerably less,? he said. ?Landmark was the third lowest. The second lowest was Hilton Lightbourne and we were the lowest,? he said.

Mr. Horsfield said he thought it was outrageous to spend more than $22,000 on a parking bay.

?I was considering it would be less than that,? he said. ?It will look quite attractive at the end of it.?

He conceded he was supplying material to the construction site, but was not doing any other work at Sessions House.

Plans were drawn up by the Division of Architectural Design and Construction at the Ministry of Works and Engineering and Housing.

The plans show that nine of the parking bays will be located on the side furthest away from Reid Street and six more cars will be located on the side closest to Reid Street.

The width of the parking lot is 45 feet, seven inches.

According to an inspection log at the Department of Planning, work started on May 19.

The planning application was received on September 24, 2004, additional information was received on February 7, 2005 and the Development Applications Board (DAB) approved the application on February 16, 2005.

The DAB approved the application subject to its visual amenity, including installation of storm drainage equipment, landscaping and the retaining wall being made of Bermuda stone.

James Young of Landmark who is involved with the parking lot project was unable to be reached yesterday.

And cross-party House and Grounds Committee chairwoman Dame Jennifer Smith was off the Island yesterday and was unavailable for comment.

Fifty-eight people are allowed to use 52 spaces at the House of Assembly, at No. 21, Parliament Street, but this does not include Prison staff bringing inmates to Supreme Court, for which the building is also used.

Dame Jennifer announced in the House of Assembly in 2004 that MPs will be given their own designated parking spaces and clearly identifiable badges to eliminate security hold-ups at Parliament Street as guards check legislators? registration numbers.

This will allow MPs who are driving friends? cars or those loaned from garages to park in their designated spot, she said.