yesterday with the Bermuda National Trust's decision to file an objection. The Trust's main grounds for objection were: The "precedent-setting'' height of the Bermuda Financial Centre Limited.

Fears of westward "urban expansion'' in Pembroke and "increased pressure to develop our already stressed Island'' -- due to the likely influx of residents (employees of the centre) and visitors.

Lack of evidence to support the need for the proposed hotel and office blocks.

Potential for marine pollution from the centre's sewage and air conditioning systems.

Trust Environmental Officer Miss Toby Butterfield drafted the objection and yesterday submitted it to the Planning Department.

The Trust had initially filed a pro-tem objection with Planning saying it needed more time to look over plans for the Bermuda Financial Centre Limited before making a final decision.

It joins the Corporation of Hamilton, the Hamilton Princess Hotel and four neighbouring guest properties in opposing the building of the complex on the vacant Bermudiana Hotel site.

Meanwhile, the author of a feasibility study of the centre's proposed 200-room hotel claimed Bermuda was in desperate need of a world-class hotel catering to business travellers and small conventions.

The six-page study was presented to Planning this week for consideration by the Development Applications Board.

It was prepared by Ms Starla Williams, owner of Select Sites Group which markets hotels and destinations to convention planners and has offices in Bermuda, Dallas, Hartford and Toronto.

The new city hotel was needed, she said, because the Island's bed pool had fallen "dramatically'' with the closing of Club Med and the Bermudiana.

And she noted the proposed Ritz Carlton project had been shelved due to loss of financial backing and "long drawn out Bermuda planning approval''.

Her study included a review of existing hotels with meeting facilities and comments from international company officials who decided against Bermuda for conventions because they could not find adequate facilities.

New first-class facilities were "imperative'' for Bermuda to maintain and expand its healthy share of the fiercely competitive domicile market for international companies, she determined.

Customs and Immigration policies also needed to be relaxed to better accommodate business groups coming to Bermuda.

"In my opinion, Bermuda is in dire need of a world-class hotel, managed by a hospitality company with a reputation for excellence in all business centres of the world, with an emphasis on small business and incentive meetings as well as accommodations for the individual business traveller,'' Ms Williams said.

Group travellers represented 40 percent of Bermuda's annual visitor arrivals, according to a Bermuda Department of Tourism report, she said.

Six years ago, industry surveys noted that Bermuda was ranked the sixth most popular business group travel destination in the world.

But latest surveys showed Bermuda had slipped to ninth place. "In my opinion, the addition of another 200 rooms in Hamilton is not going to displace business but rather enhance the existing scenario,'' Ms Williams said.

She concluded: "The improving world economy; the growing Bermuda business community; and the recognised need for a small property with impeccable services and the finest public areas along with guest accommodations, provides concrete proof that Bermuda should have such a facility offering just that -- as well as thoughtfully planned conference rooms -- not ballrooms, restaurants, lounges and business services in close proximity to Hamilton.

Developers of the Bermuda Financial Centre need only DAB approval to get the project off the ground following their purchase last week of the Bermudiana property for $14.5 million.

Government Senate Leader the Hon. Michael Winfield and architect Mr. Fraser Butterworth are among the developers.

The massive financial centre will also feature executive condos, three office blocks, an underground car park and a spa.

A further $115-million-plus must be raised to build it.

The National Liberal Party yesterday stated it was against the office block part of the "ambitious project''.

Hamilton could turn into an American ghetto if projects like the financial centre were allowed to proceed, NLP leader Mr. Gilbert Darrell warned.

"The NLP is supportive of a new hotel, condominiums and convention centre, but we believe the other commercial facilities should be constructed in the city where they belong,'' he said. "New office blocks in that area would create an unfair sprawl while empty lots and derelict buildings stand in the city proper.

"We need to recycle our older buildings and bring them to the same standards the Bermudiana developers aim for.''