area from development, two pressure groups are demanding.

The National Trust and Save Open Spaces want to see the Bermuda Properties scheme for Ship's Hill halted and are urging the Development Applications Board to throw the plan out.

Now both groups are suggesting that the Government Quarry should be handed over to BPL for the development to stop the sacrifice of a significant part of the environment.

BPL wants to build 37 luxury homes and a retail village and to alter the Castle Harbour golf course as part of multi-million dollar plans aimed at helping to revitalise Marriott's Castle Harbour Resort.

The company has produced an environmental impact study which says the scheme will not damage the cave system under Ship's Hill and will lead to greater protection for endemic animal and plant species in the area.

It says the plan will boost the Bermuda economy and provide an opportunity to enhance the environmental quality of the area.

However the Trust and SOS say the scheme will endanger the environment and suggest working out the land-swap deal.

The idea is contained in objections filed by both groups with the Planning Department in response to BPL's application for final planning permission for the development.

In its report, the Trust says caves under Ship's Hill cannot be adequately protected during construction and vibrations during the work could add to the risk of caves collapsing. It added it had not seen sewage treatment plans and said 50 percent of the site's forest area would be lost.

The Trust said it recognised the need to upgrade the hotel and to improve Bermuda's tourism but argued that Ship's Hill was the wrong site.

"We understand that Bermuda Properties has in the past sought an alternative siting at the Government Quarry,'' the Trust said. "We strongly recommend that Government consider allowing the use of the Quarry for this particular development.

"We do recognise the need for upgrading Marriott's and for improving Bermuda's tourism product generally. We cannot, however, accept that this need forces us to sacrifice a significant part of our environment.

"There is a viable alternative which we believe presents a solution for all concerned,'' the Trust's report states.

SOS chairman Ian Macdonald-Smith says BPL is unable to guarantee protection of caves and endemic species of invertebrates -- with run-off from pool water containing chlorine threatening the cave system.

Objectors call for land swap In objections filed by SOS, he said the development is too dense and will be highly visible to visitors arriving on Bermuda. He also suggests the land-swap deal involving Government Quarry.

"The potential to convey a land-swap is so apparent and logical that it seems absurd that the Bermuda Government will grant an order for the development of priceless Ship's Hill when they have the massive and exhausted quarry adjacent to BPL's land in need of development.

"This development will devastate a national treasure and contribute to the downfall of Bermuda's tourism industry and highlight internationally the unwillingness of this Island to protect its unique environment.'' As well as SOS and the Trust, the Mid Ocean Golf Club and some Bermuda residents have objected to the BPL plans.

One objector claimed the plan would lead to the destruction of the environment and overdensity of development.

"Bermuda must speak out and be heard -- our open spaces are some of our most valuable resources and should be saved at all costs for future generations,'' said the resident.

Another objector said: "There is no shortage of housing for Bermudians or non-Bermudians and the ploy that this development will increase tourist dollars is just that, a ploy.

"How can the addition of ten attached houses and 27 townhouses ensure increased revenues as indicated by the developers when the 400-plus rooms at the Marriott Castle Harbour cannot be filled? "Bermuda Properties will be Americanising this part of Bermuda by taking every bit of green open space.'' And another objector wrote to the Planning Department saying: "I will only say the purpose of my objection is not to stonewall important development plans for Bermuda's tourist industry but rather look at the aspect from an island wide perspective of our most limited resource; land use.

"It makes eminent sense to save a nugget of Bermuda's dwindling green open space.''