An undertaking by Premier Alex Scott to give full details on the decision to build a hospital in the Botanical Gardens and the possibility of a reversal if there is overwhelming opposition, has been welcomed by the National Trust.

The Trust has produced its own detailed concerns about the $500 million scheme that was announced at the end of August by Health Minister Patrice Minors and the Bermuda Hospitals Board.

On its website, the Trust has posted its concerns and what it feels should be the way forward, including putting the project back before the public for further feedback. It has also published its letter of September 6 to the Premier encapsulating its various concerns.

Following a day of meetings on Wednesday that included the Premier discussing the Government's position with the Sustainable Development Round Table, National Trust director Steven Conway said: "The National Trust welcomes the Premier's statement that the new hospital for the Botanical Gardens will be reviewed and the full facts behind the decision to build in the National Park will made be available at the upcoming public meetings.

"The Trust's letter to the Premier highlighted its case as stated on www.bnt.bm. We reiterate that building in the Botanical Gardens is not an option and that the loss of this or any other National Park should not be a choice for major public infrastructure development."

He added: "It is a luxury that Bermuda cannot afford and if sustainable development principles are adopted, it should be about redevelopment, reuse and recycling. We should meet the challenges of building on the existing site."

The National Trust is one of a number of groups and individuals, including the United Bermuda Party, who have called for the 40-year-old KEMH to be reconstructed at its current site.

According to Government, the cost of rebuilding on the present hospital site would be $100m more than the alternative of using ten acres of the Botanical Gardens as a new site, it is also estimated that it will take up to two years longer to achieve.

The hospital is expected to reach the end of its useful life in 2012.