ENVIRONMENT Minister Neletha Butterfield is remaining tight-lipped over whether enforcement action will be taken against a man who destroyed longtail nests and bulldozed centuries-old rock formations in contravention of Planning laws.

Henry Talbot was ordered to repair the damage on the beach at Gilbert's Bay, Sandys, after he failed in his bid for retroactive Planning permission and his deadline for doing the work passed nearly four months ago. No repair work has apparently yet been done.

The Environment Minister has the power to take enforcement action.

We sent questions for Minister Butterfield on Wednesday to Permanent Secretary of the Environment, Wayne Carey. We received no response by press time.

We asked whether any action had been taken and whether any prosecution would be pursued.

Planning inspectors' reports stated that Mr. Talbot's works breached the Development and Planning Act 1974, which allows for a fine of $25,000 for each offence.

Mr. Talbot is a former trustee of the governing Progressive Labour Party.

Planning inspector Peter Cuming visited the site on July 12 last year and wrote in his report to Minister Butterfield : "I am under no illusion that what has happened at the appeal site represents a triumph of personal interests over the conservation of publicly owned areas."

The Development Applications Board (DAB) rejected Mr. Talbot's application for retroactive Planning permission and his subsequent appeal was also turned down. The DAB concluded that Mr. Talbot had "shown complete and utter disregard for the planning process".

Among its reasons for rejecting his claim was that he had breached the Development and Planning Act 1974 by excavating on the beach, damaging a natural habitat, destroying natural features and causing material damage to an area of woodland reserve. Neighbours also complained that Mr. Talbot piled up boulders at the foot of a path which gives them access to the beach.