six small pools on to approved villas.

The application, as submitted on July 12, sought approval for six small pools/hot tubs for six detached houses on the Palmetto Bay Hotel site in Smith's Parish.

These pools were part of an original redevelopment proposal for the site.

After Planning technical officers expressed serious concerns with this element of the proposal, they were dropped from the application. The pools will be smaller than those previously intended, but the area of deck space is similar.

Technical officers considered that the pools, as located adjacent to the coastline, were "insensitive to the physical limitations of the site''.

In particular, there are concerns about the stability of the coastline and the potential damage to the area.

They stated: "For these reasons it is considered that the proposal does not meet the details of Planning or the Coastline Development Provisions as contained in Paragraphs 3.3(1) (a)(iii), (b)(i) and (2), Section 3 and Paragraph COA-2, Section 13.COA of the Bermuda Plan 1992 Planning Statement.

"Furthermore, it appears that there is scope to accommodate hot tubs within the confines of these approved substantial villas.

"The site also contains a beach and approval has been granted for two large pools.

"The application has been advertised with no objections received. The application is not considered reasonable.'' Planning explained that it refused the above application for the following reasons: The proposed pools do not satisfy the details of Planning as contained in the Bermuda Plan 1992 Planning Statement in that insufficient regard has been given to the physical limitations of this highly visible, coastal site; and The proposed pools are not in accordance with the Bermuda Plan 1992 Planning Statement in that the structures will have a detrimental impact on the natural and scenic qualities and the structural integrity of the coastline as the pools are located on cliff edges and near collapsed cliffs.

TOURISM TOU