Ministers should recognise that conflicts exist within the planning system and introduce measures to combat them, according to an experienced surveyor.

Mr. Ian Waddington wrote a letter, published in The Royal Gazette , lamenting the planning process.

Yesterday he said: "It needs recognition from the top that there is a problem. There has been talk for years, but nothing is ever done.'' In his letter, Mr. Waddington, who has 23 years' experience of the Bermuda system, said an appeal was lodged with the Environment and Planning Minister, but acknowledged by the Director of Planning -- the person responsible for the first refusal.

Sometimes, he wrote, some matters were referred to the Minister responsible for Agriculture -- who is also the Environment Minister.

"When negative responses come from the Minister responsible for Agriculture, the Minister of Planning wearing two hats, has already rejected the proposal,'' wrote Mr. Waddington.

He added that when lodging grounds for appeal it did not matter how many previous cases were referred to because independent decisions were made, without taking into account any precedents.

Appeals to an independent Inspector were also held in the Planning Department and the Inspector was rubbing shoulders with the people who had already refused the application, he said.

His letter adds: "Appeal decisions in Bermuda are indeed very personal, biased, full of conflict and made in an untimely manner.

"Matters that are contentious generally have been thrown into the pile in the corner, with the hope they would disappear, rather than be addressed.'' Yesterday he added: "The letter is not a personal attack. The Planning Director, Mr. Brian Rowlinson, is working hard to make sure there is no conflict.'' Last night, the new Environment Minister, Pam Gordon, said she already intended to speak to the Director of Planning on the appeals issue and would be asking him for a report.

She said the possibility of an independent tribunal, to judge appeals, could be considered -- adding an extra layer to the planning process before it reached the Minister.

"I feel in a lot of instances we follow the British system where appeals go to the Minister. Our system is not unique.'' Ms. Gordon added: "I am more than willing to look at the fact that because of our `smallness' bias could be perceived. Maybe it is time to look at the possibility of reform in the way we go about dealing with appeals.''