A CAMPAIGN to save the Fairmont Southampton Princess golf course from being bulldozed and replaced with expensive villas was revived this week amid concerns the plans would quietly receive the go-ahead, while the public focused on protecting Southlands.Developers were invited to resubmit plans after the initial proposal was met with a massive outcry from residents angered that the hotel’s venerable 18-hole golf course would be shortened and the property redeveloped to include 91 villas.

A circulated petition protesting the multi-million-dollar scheme gathered 600 signatures, while a further 25 objection letters were sent to the Department of Planning.

The hotel had until March 30 to revise its plans which would also have placed 54 tourist villas on Turtle Hill, a beach club at the former Whaler Inn site and a golf academy at the redesigned, nine-hole course.

One of the original objectors to the plan spoke to the Mid-Ocean News, concerned that residents may have forgotten the threatened development following the announcement of the controversial plan to build a luxury hotel on Southlands, a 37-acre private estate in Warwick.

“The whole focus is now on Southlands — and quite rightly — but I’m wondering if it’s just going to slide through,” said Susan Roblin.

“In my mind it’s equally important. I don’t know what the revised plans are for the hotel, but I am really hopeful they’re not going to get away with what they were planning to do.

“If you look at the aerial view of the original plans it is as frightening as (what’s planned for) Southlands. They want to develop the whole plot — from Lighthouse Hill to South Shore Road.”

Contacted yesterday regarding its development plans, the hotel group declined to comment.

It is Ms Roblin’s hope that the Fairmont development is one the Bermuda Environmental Sustainability Taskforce (BEST) intends to take on as a cause.

“At the last meeting (chairman) Stuart Hayward mentioned that they are now working on several projects objecting to development. I hope they’re including things like the Princess.

“The villas will not be of benefit to anyone else except to make the bottom line of the Princess group look better. It’s a one-off cash-in for the hotel and in the meantime our land is gone.”

Equally offensive is the fact the hotel intends to sell the villas as “freehold”, the Southampton resident added.

“That means the land is gone forever. I thought the (Progressive Labour Party) was supposed to be here for the people. It’s a joke. They’re making it harder for Bermudians and easier for foreigners to sell off our land. The going rate for the villas is $2 or 3 million. “Do you think the average Bermudian can buy that? It doesn’t just affect me. It affects everybody.”

She said the hotel had asked owners of neighbouring properties for their input but hadn’t been forthcoming with its own intent.

“We’ve received one letter and nothing since. I haven’t heard anything from the hotel or seen any new plans in the paper. It’s not a personal thing. It’s not just because my property’s right there.

“I know I’m not on my own because in less than 24 hours we had 600 signatures (on the petition). I want this to be of equal importance to Southlands. Southlands is a private estate — God help us if that gets through.

“The Southampton Princess is the same. If they get there way, there’ll be nothing left.”

Ms Roblin said the hotel had already sold off great parcels of land to the island’s detriment, but voiced optimism that Bermudians would not allow it to sell more.

“If you’re down at Horseshoe Bay and look up, all you see is great big houses. Once it’s done, it’s gone forever. It’s the same with (the resort chain hoping to develop Southlands), Jumeirah.

“Once they’ve started Bermuda’s land is gone forever. I’m wondering if people don’t have the same fire in their bellies because it’s a golf course.

“I’m not fighting for a golf course, I’m fighting for open space. If you take a drive up to the hotel at sunset — it’s stunning. There are all kinds of birds that visit the area.

“The scenery is gorgeous. If the Southampton Princess wants to develop land, why don’t they look elsewhere at properties that are deteriorating? Why don’t they fix them up?

“They don’t have to take the precious virgin land that we have. It’s depressing. It’s scary all this development going on. I’m just hoping the Minister will be strong. Let’s not let these people get away with this stuff.”

Objectors fear villa plan ‘will be slipped through’