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Campaign group seeks public support

The water tower at the Botanical Gardens (file photograph)

Campaign group Take Back Our Park has issued a “call for action” in an effort to halt development in Botanical Gardens.

Objectors to the plans to build a maintenance yard in the park have been asked to send their comments through to Marcus Wade at Marwade@gov.bm.

Earlier, the group presented a 1,500-word “letter of objection” to the Bermuda Government.

The proposed maintenance yard would include a two-storey water tower, a 30ft tall warehouse and a headquarters for parks staff.

Jennifer Flood, a spokesperson for TBOP, said in a statement this morning: “We have been consistent in saying that the Parks staff deserve a new headquarters, just not in a place that virtually bisects a national park.

“We know that a yard has existed there previously but we feel strongly that Government has missed an opportunity to move it somewhere more suitable. In addition, the sheer scale of the development is wholly inappropriate.”

Work on the new maintenance yard was stopped earlier this year after Chief Justice Ian Kawaley granted a temporary injunction halting the Bermuda Government from proceeding with its plans.

Government recently held a public meeting on the plans, which was attended by TBOP members. However, according to the statement, the members found the meeting “disappointing”.

The group is now urging interested members of the public to sign an online petition in protest of the development.

“We would urge people to sign our petition and to write to Government protesting these plans,” Ms Flood said. “We believe there are suitable alternative sites and that this is a great chance to enhance the Botanical Gardens, a national treasure.”