Bad smells have forced efforts to market a disused resort to be put on hold, MPs heard on Friday.

Lieutenant-Colonel David Burch, the Minister of Public Works, told the House of Assembly that the decision to halt the bid to get the former 9 Beaches resort in Sandys redeveloped came after the Government agreed to extend the lease of nearby Westover Farm.

Colonel Burch said: “The Government decided that 9 Beaches would be removed from consideration for development and the focus would be on promoting vacant tourism properties.

“We will explore a technological solution to the smells emanating from Westover Farm first before looking to restart marketing efforts at 9 Beaches.”

The resort closed its doors in 2010.

It was announced in 2018 that the Bermuda Land Development Company had partnered with professional services firm KPMG to market the site to potential developers overseas.

But Colonel Burch said that Government told the BLDC to halt the arrangement with KPMG in 2019.

He added that $25,000 was paid to KPMG before the contract was cancelled.