International criticism of Bermuda Properties Limited's plans to develop Ship's Hill in Hamilton Parish gathered momentum this week as top academics and an international environmental group added their voices to the chorus of protest against the plan which includes 13 townhouses, 13 condominiums and associated buildings.

The Karst Waters Institute, a US based international cave study organisation has listed Church Cave -- part of the Ship's Hill cave system -- as one of the ten most endangered caves in the world, and Professor John Holsinger of Old Dominion University recently described Bermuda Properties' plans as, "foolish and misdirected.'' Environmental activist Ian MacDonald-Smith, who heads Save Open Spaces, a local group fighting the proposed development of Ship's Hill, said the listing on Karst Institute's ten most endangered list, is "very significant.'' "The Karst Waters Institute is an independent environmental institute in the US, and having Church Cave singled out by them is very important,'' he said.

The Karst Waters Institute's Dr. Thomas Iliffe of Texas A&M University, said the Ship's Hill development plan raises "serious concerns,'' especially as any work done on the area is likely to upset the oxygen levels within the cave's water systems, which will more than likely result in the extinction of 11 endangered species of tiny shrimp-like creatures and other endemic life forms.

The Karst Waters Institute's listing comes just a week after an A grade environmental assessment survey for the controversial $65 million housing development which is planned to sit over the cave system.

The environmental impact was commissioned by the would-be developers, Bermuda Properties.

"Who are they trying to fool anyway?'' wrote Professor John Holsinger in reaction to the Environmental Impact Study.

"Despite what Bermuda Properties may say, or what their environmental impact study implies, many serious problems will occur.'' Professor Holsinger said Ship's Hill and its caves are one of Bermuda's unique, non-renewable resources.

"To threaten its existence with yet another developmental scheme designed to make a few people rich is foolish and misdirected,'' Professor Holsinger wrote this week.

Dr. Iliffe and Professor Holsinger's comments echoed those of Save Open Spaces spokesman Ian MacDonald-Smith who is spearheading local objections to Bermuda Properties' plans.

Mr. MacDonald-Smith also heaped scorn on the Environmental Impact Study for the proposed development which includes the construction of roads, tennis courts, walkways and utility conduits as well as landscaping and sewage disposal for the more than two dozen dwellings.

"Chlorine from pools, pesticides and other chemicals associated with residential areas are bound to find their way into the caves and ruin them,'' Mr. MacDonald-Smith said yesterday. "Any excavation or construction of any type will have an effect.'' Last month, hundreds of objectors made their feelings known to the Planning Department after SOS published a fax-in protest form in The Royal Gazette .

Bermuda Properties have applied for final planning approval for the development of 13 houses with swimming pools, 13 two-story townhouses, a communal pool, four tennis courts and a water tank -- down from their original plans for 37 houses.

Original permission for development was given in principle in 1995 amid threats that the Marriott group -- which has suffered multi-million dollar losses in Bermuda -- would quit the Island if Castle Harbour's losses continued.

SOS have called for a Royal Commission to be appointed to look into the whole Ship's Hill issue, and have also suggested Bermuda Properties consider moving their development to the all but exhausted Bermuda Government quarry adjacent to Ship's Hill, leaving the virgin woodland as a conservation area.

PLANNING PLN