The developers of the new Belmont hotel have already excavated parts of the hotel's golf course in Warwick - even though the project still awaits planning approval.

The developers, Somers Management, have excavated parts of the fairways alongside Ord Road and cut through a cliff near the Middle Road underpass to accommodate a new cart path.

Yesterday, Brian Rowlinson, the Permanent Secretary for Environment, told developers to stop major digging on the course after a bobcat was seen working on the cart path. It was the second warning in a week.

The first warning was sent after the Bermuda National Trust complained to Environment officials about excessive excavation of the fairways with heavy equipment earlier this month.

When he first heard from the Trust, Mr. Rowlinson said the work was not illegal. Even though the course plans were only submitted in late November, Mr. Rowlinson gave the developers permission to remove topsoil from the greens and fairways in preparation for new grass. In a letter to the Bermuda National Trust, Mr. Rowlinson explained that the work "did not constitute development" for which planning permission is required."

"Under normal circumstances," Mr. Rowlinson wrote, "the nature of this work would constitute repair and maintenance work similar to that undertaken by golf course managers on a regular basis".

Mr. Rowlinson explained yesterday that the developers, facing tight deadlines imposed by an impending growing season and high demand for tee times, began work on January 11. The course was closed on January 6, with the intention of reopening in 12 to 15 months.

In a January 10 letter confirming the arrangement, Somers Management's Kevin Petty, the managing director of the project, wrote: "This work does not require the approval of the current planning permission application and that we will not proceed with any excavationwork to the fairways until such time the application has been approved."

But Trust officials told Mr. Rowlinson that developers had done more than change the topsoil, although Peter Drew, the Trust's conservation who wrote the letter of complaint, would not comment on the situation.

Nor would one of the project's managers, Martin Bellamy of Paterson Contracting, and Mr. Petty is off the Island.

"They may have gone beyond what was intended in my letter," Mr. Rowlinson said. "(But) they've basically apologised."

Mr. Rowlinson expects the Development Applications Board to review the proposal for Belmont's course on February 6, when they could even approve the project.

The property's owner, Richard Halsey, will also submit plans for a new clubhouse, as well as new residential and hotel facilities as part of the overall redevelopment plan.