THE planned location of a new hospital has put the future of one of Bermuda's best-loved traditions in jeopardy, according to the Opposition.

And yesterday Environment Minister Neletha Butterfield refused to be drawn on the future of the Annual Exhibition, except to say that the hospital development will "significantly impact one of Bermuda's most popular events".

The understands that the exhibition, held each year at the Botanical Gardens, will be scrapped after 2008 so that construction work on the new hospital ? to be built in the centre of the gardens ? can begin. It is not clear if the show will start back up once the bulldozers leave the site in 2013.

At a press conference on Wednesday Health Minister Patrice Minors said that, because construction work would not begin for at least another two years, the event would be staged as usual until then. But she said she was unable to comment on the show's future beyond 2008.

A Government spokeswoman later confirmed that the show would be affected while work went on ? and that no firm decision as to its future had been made.

Although the location of the new hospital ? which takes up less than one third of the gardens ? does not encroach on the main arena where the show is normally staged, it is understood that that space will be used as a storage area for building equipment and supplies.

Yesterday Shadow Environment Minister Cole Simons said the proposal would compromise the event if an alternative site was not found.

And he also suggested that the collective Cabinet decision was made against the objections of Environment Minister Neletha Butterfield, demonstrating that Government had little concern for the environment.

"It's difficult for me to comment at the moment because I don't know what Government plans are yet ? are they going to provide the Annual Exhibition with an alternative location?" Mr. Simons, a keen horseman, said.

"If not, then I do have some concerns about the long-term sustainability of both the show and agriculture.

"The show is part of our heritage ? it's like Cup Match ? it's an opportunity for us to showcase what we can do in agriculture and animal husbandry.

"I am told that Cabinet overturned the decision of the Minister. Again it was done with the planned importation of soil for Bermuda's Sports Centre, and other major planning projects. There is total disregard for the Ministry of the Environment and its initiatives and recommendations.

"Yet again this Government has demonstrated its myopic vision when it comes to the environment. They have made a cost-based decision today, which will have ongoing social and economic costs to Bermuda's young people and generations to come.

"We cannot compromise one of Bermuda natural gems. We cannot compromise our manicured open spaces."

In a statement yesterday, Ms Butterfield hinted that her Ministry opposed the location, but that she was overruled by Cabinet colleagues.

"The Minister wishes the public to know that she has strongly advocated in the interests of open space preservation and will continue to do so in the future," the statement read.

"Due to the decision to site the hospital at Botanical Gardens, in the coming months Ministry officials will be looking strategically at options for relocating departmental offices and facilities as well as considering the long-term future of the Annual Exhibition.

"In due course, the Minister will be sharing these findings with the public for feedback."