Donald Lines built the four feet long, 18 inches high wall off the foreshore of his Pembroke home.

But it was built without planning permission and in a protected area -- so the Agriculture Minister said enforcement action should be taken and the wall knocked down.

Last night Mr. Lines said: "I have made up my mind to take it down. I made up my mind to take it down before this debate started. The whole thing was a bit of a storm in a tea cup.'' The Agriculture Minister -- Pamela Gordon -- recommended taking enforcement action against Mr. Lines for building the wall.

However it is Ms Gordon -- wearing her other hat as Planning Minister -- who would decide whether to press ahead with any action. Yesterday Ms. Gordon was not available for comment.

According to Mr. Lines, chairman of the National Sports Centre trustees, he built the wall last spring, but it was drawn to the attention of Planning officials by some American neighbours.

It was inspected by Government officers who said the wall needed planning permission.

The plan was considered by the DAB which turned permission down and recommended that the Environment and Planning Minister "institute appropriate action''.

It said the application was refused on the grounds that it was forbidden under the 1974 Development and Planning Act and was against the 1992 Bermuda Plan.

The ruling said: "In view of the retroactive nature of the application, the Board recommends that the Minister institute appropriate enforcement action with regard to the unauthorised development.'' Donald Lines