Environment Minister Terry Lister has allowed the finishing touches to be completed at Fantasy Cave in Hamilton Parish despite a refusal by the Development Applications Board (DAB) to build a pathway through woodland reserve and an objection by the National Trust against constructing a waterfall inside the cave.

The opening of the cave was slated for January but has been delayed four times due to refusals and objections.

The Minister's decisions concerning the two latest appeals has paved the way for the new tourist attraction to open by early June.

Architects Bermuda Caribbean Engineering Consultants Ltd. (BCEC), on behalf of owners HBL Wilkinson Trust, appealed a decision by the DAB to refuse the construction of a pathway to the entrance of the cave and, on May 2, the Minister upheld their appeal.

A controversial waterfall planned for inside the cave, which was approved by the DAB in January but objected to by the National Trust in February, was also allowed to go ahead after the Minister dismissed the Trust's appeal last week.

The appeals were evaluated by Brian Field, an independent overseas planning inspector from England. He recommended that both appeals be resolved in favour of BCEC.

The Minister did however make an additional condition upon a recommendation by the inspector that after a period of five years, the impact of the waterfall is to be thoroughly evaluated prior to the grant of new planning permission.

President of BCEC, David Summers said: "We are horribly behind with the planned opening of the cave, but a total of four appeals have surfaced on this project and it has been heavy going.'' Environmental chair of the National Trust, Edith Martin, was not happy at all.

"The Trust is disappointed that the Minister saw fit to grant planning permission on appeal allowing the pathway through woodland reserve to be surfaced with paving stones and a re-circulating waterfall to be added to Fantasy Cave,'' she said.

"After BCEC illegally cleared the pathway to the cave through woodland reserve, they applied for planning permission on the basis that the pathway was not going to negatively impact the Woodland Reserve.

"For the developers to get permission to intensify the level of development by laying Techno-block paving stones on the pathway simply adds insult to injury. It sends the message that it doesn't matter if you break the law and that it may even be to a developers benefit to do so.'' Ms Martin also said the Trust objected to the waterfall on David Wingate's authority that such an addition to Fantasy Cave could damage the cave formations over time.

She said: "The developers of the cave relied heavily on its educational value in order to get planning to re-open it. In light of the stated aims of the developers in re-opening the cave, the Trust fails to see how the addition of this artificial and potentially destructive feature to the cave is appropriate.'' Ms Martin conceded that the Minister's condition that the waterfall be evaluated after five years does offer some consolation.

The resolution of the latest appeals comes after a grand opening of the cave in mid-March -- which would have been attended by Premier Jennifer Smith and Tourism Minister David Allen -- was cancelled due to the delays.

The Trust supported the re-opening of the cave hoping it would afford the public a more authentic caving experience than other show caves presently open.

However, their initial objection stated: "There is nothing authentic about the `Disneyfied' waterfall the developer now wishes to install.'' The Trust submitted Dr. Wingate's opinion that: "Introducing a steady flow of fresh water over these speleothems (cave formations) would actually have the effect of dissolving the flow stone rather than enhancing it.'' He also said the waterfall may inadvertently cause the atmosphere of the cave to become saturated to 100 percent humidity, producing a cave fog and reduced visibility.

The independent inspector, Mr. Field admitted that the Trusts' concerns were "wholly legitimate'' but said they were also "speculative''.

"However, the conditions attached to the DAB's original approval are sufficiently robust to redress any of the proposals potentially adverse environmental impacts, and for this reason I am inclined to support the proposal, subject to an additional condition that, even after the 12 month review period, any extension in the permission remains temporary and for a five year period only.

"Thereafter, the impact of the waterfall should be thoroughly evaluated before continuation of the facility is reviewed and approved.'' Fantasy soon a reality: Fantasy Caves in Hamilton Parish are expected to open in June after two objections were overruled by Environment Minister Terry Lister.