The head of the Planning Department hit back at claims that the handling of a recent application reinforced perceptions that the department is corrupt.

Director Rudolph Hollis called on anyone with concerns about corruption to report them in order to allow a full investigation.

Mr. Hollis contacted on Thursday in the wake of recent controversy over an application to re-develop the Newstead Hotel.

Belmont Hills owner Kevin Petty recently submitted an application for a development at the Newstead hotel which would more than triple the size of the property.

However, the name on the application was Belmont Hills (as the developer) and not Newstead.

Confusion ensued which resulted in neighbours suggesting that misleading information had been used in an effort to reduce the number of objections which might be made against the development.

?There was deception used and the upper echelons on Planning went along with it,? Harbour Road property owner Charles Zuill told last week.

But Mr. Hollis said Planning staff had been stung by Dr. Zuill?s statements.

?If there is any evidence of corruption, as Director I would like to know about it,? he said. ?I will personally have this Department investigated to deal with it.?

Mr. Hollis continued: ?I don?t know Mr. Zuill, but I?m sure he is an intelligent person. And when intelligent people say things like this, others listen.

?This sounds like he has a basis ? I have my doubts, but nonetheless, the statement has been made.?

But Mr. Hollis said concerns about the Newstead/Belmont Hills issue were unfounded.

?The legal (Newstead) address was indeed used,? he said. ?It is unfortunate that in a small place like Bermuda we associate more with place names than addresses.?

People do use various forms of manipulation to reduce objections to Planning applications, he admitted.

For example, people may apply under the name of a trust, instead of the name of the person who owns the trust.

Also, applicants often come in armed with the wrong information ? as possibly occurred in the Newstead case.

?People ask to see the Newstead application and nothing comes up on the computer. There?s nothing corrupt about that ? it?s simply the wrong information,? said Mr. Hollis.