Protesters against the controversial Southlands development claim an image showing before and after aerial pictures of the site proves that the majority of green open space would be built upon.

The pictures (see above) were shown at a public meeting on the multi-million dollar South Shore hotel proposal last week and are now circulating around the Island via email — though it was not possible yesterday to confirm where they came from.

Those opposed to the plan for environmental reasons say that the “after” picture belies the claim of developers that the new five-star resort would cover only 16 percent of the 37 acres of open space at Southlands. But Southlands developer Craig Christensen said last night: “I believe the way it’s depicted is intentionally misleading.

“There are better and more up to date renderings.”

David Wingate, from the National Trust, told The Royal Gazette he understood the “after” image to be a digital photograph taken of an image in the Southlands planning application. “I think it’s important for the public to see that the coverage of the building on that 37 acres would be immense,” he said.

“It would destroy the open space values of the property almost completely.

“If it was the open space values of Southlands which attracted this hotel proposal in the first place, what on earth sense does it make to obliterate those values almost completely in the process of building it?”

He added: “It is unthinkable ... that we should allow the fragmentation and urbanisation of yet another virgin green space for a hotel, while at least four other hotel sites lie derelict as brownfield sites.”

Fellow protester Stuart Hayward described the image as “very significant”. “The developers have promoted actively that they are only covering 16 percent of the site,” he said.

“When you look at the overlay of the buildings and other things going onto the site it’s very clear that that is not an accurate figure of what’s being covered.”

He said the 16 percent referred only to buildings with roofs and did not take into account walkways, roads, car parks and other concrete or hard surface areas.

“I think they are using that figure in an attempt to persuade the public that there isn’t going to be very much development on the site, that a lot of the open space is going to be retained and, in fact, it isn’t. They say they haven’t been deceiving but they just haven’t been telling the whole truth.”

Mr. Christensen said the image was too small to show the plan for the site in its true context. “It’s kind of inappropriate,” he said.

He added: “What we are looking to preserve and make special about Southlands is the actual greenery around the particular buildings. We have had a qualified horticulturist on site for over a year now.”

Public consultation on Southlands has now closed and Government is considering whether to grant a Special Development Order to fast track the plan.

Photos justify our fears — Southlands protesters