Campaigners upset about the new maintenance yard in Botanical Gardens have turned to Public Access to Information legislation to see if environmental reports were carried out on the project.

In a statement, Take Back Our Park (TBOP) stated it had used the new PATI legislation to request copies of an environmental impact report, a noise impact study and a visual impact study. The group also requested a financial analysis and documentation entailing alternative sites considered for the development.

However, the group said in a statement that it was subsequently told by the planning department that none of the information sought is on the planning files.

Jennifer Flood, a spokeswoman for the group, said: “We were surprised by the answer as we would have expected that at least one, if not all, of those reports would have been done, given that this is such a sensitive area.

“If they have been done, but not added to the planning files, I would ask that they be released for the public to see. I cannot believe that all those studies were deemed unnecessary.”

TBOP has called on the Bermuda Government to halt work on the new maintenance yard for the parks department, which includes a new water tower and two two-storey buildings, and urged that details be released about any studies looking into alternate sites for the project.

“Previously, a ministry spokeswoman was quoted as saying ‘while numerous studies have been conducted to find a more suitable location for the maintenance yard, the location at Botanical Gardens was determined to be the best choice’,” Ms Flood said.

“So where are those studies? If they exist, they should be in the planning files and available for the public to view. We should not have to make special requests for them.”

TBOP has previously launched an online petition objecting to the project, expressing concern that the buildings and associated work at the site will negatively affect the park.