Plans to build a new hospital on the Botanical Gardens have been put on hold for at least six months after Government and hospital officials ordered a further review into the options.

Campaigners seeking to save the Botanical Gardens have welcomed news that an independent review is being commissioned to look again at the Estates Master Plan and options for where to build a replacement to the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

But questions are being asked about the mounting bill for consultants involved in the project estimated already to be in the region of $45 million to $50 million by Shadow Health Minister Louise Jackson.

All previous options to rebuild the hospital either on its existing site, at the Arboretum or the Botanical Gardens are now to be looked at by an undisclosed ?leading service provider?.

Bermuda Hospitals Board chairman Anthony Richardson said: ?In the interests of keeping the community updated on our activities we wanted to inform Bermuda of our next steps.

?We expect the review will take up to six months and we anticipate that there will be no further progress with our site investigation for the new hospital until the review is complete.?

Mr. Richardson said there would be a further public update when a contract is signed.

Asked to clarify what a third party review would entail and its aim, Mr. Richardson said: ?We felt it would benefit Bermuda to have a third party review of all the information, findings and recommendations made to date in the Estates Master Plan before proceeding further.

?Once BHB has reviewed the report it will be forwarded to Cabinet with any appropriate recommendations.?

The reason for the fresh review, according to the BHB chairman, was as a result of discussions with Health Minister Patrice Minors and the feeling that such an independent review ?would provide an additional level of scrutiny of the Estate Master Plan before we proceed with any further investigations.?

The latest turn in the hospital saga follows widespread concern within the community about the prospect of ten acres of the Botanical Gardens being built upon. A time-line of major events in the decision-making process includes:

After hearing news of the planned independent review, National Trust President Bill Holmes, said: ?We are grateful because we think that keeps the debate alive. If it is an independent review there should be a different perspective that will allow us to have a strong hospital and save the Botanical Gardens.?

Mr. Holmes did not think it was a U-turn but ?an ongoing process?, adding: ?Anything that brings the decision to the forefront and brings another set of eyes and more ideas has to be a positive step.?

United Bermuda Party Shadow Health Minister Ms Jackson was pleased to hear the decision is being reviewed but warned about the escalating cost of more consultants being involved.

She said: ?I?m astonished yet another service provider is coming in. The cost estimate for the consultancy fees for this hospital are already in the range of $45m to $50m. ?I do not know what else they want anyone to tell them. I do not mind the extra six months it will take but how much is this going to cost and who are these people?

?I don?t think the project has been managed properly, there doesn?t appear to be anyone in charge.?