Latest News

If Southlands were made a park, would you use it?

	Yes, a lot!
	Occasionally
	No, never.

Southlands

Southlands Video!

Couldn't make the open event to view Southlands? Check out BEST's video footage of the event here.

Don't forget to sign the petition!

What a success!

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On Sunday, March 21st, Southlands was open to the public to explore and experience the beautiful property. With over 1,500 people arriving throughout the day, the event was a real success!

We would like to thank everyone who came to support BEST and see for themselves the amazing Southlands property that should become a national park. For those of you inspired to do more, click to 'read more'.

Explore and Experience Southlands!

Sunday, March 21 (2pm - 5pm)
Free Parking, Free Admission, Free tours, Free beverages!

BEST invites all of Bermuda to explore and experience Southlands this Sunday, March 21st from 2pm until 5pm. Wander through the property at your leisure and learn the fascinating details of its history. Take a guided tour through the quarry gardens. Listen to what Dr. David Wingate has to say about the property and its value as one of Bermuda's last great open spaces. Finish your tour on Southlands' beautiful beach with closing remarks by Stuart Hayward.

Schedule of Events:
2:20 Tour of property starts in front of main hour
3.00 Second tour starts
4:00 Presentation by Dr. David Wingate under the Banyan trees
4:30 Presentation by Stuart Hayward on the beach

Once you've seen Southlands, we think you'll agree that it would make an amazing addition to Bermuda's public park system. See you on Sunday!

Southlands Update

Dear BEST friends, Members & Supporters. Please open the file below for important updates on Southlands, and learn what you can do to help.

pdf

Southlands_UPDATE.pdf

Write to Your MPs!

Click 'Read More' for a list of Bermuda's MPs. Send your MP a message telling them to complete the Southlands-Morgan's Point land swap deal!

Sign the Petition to Save Southlands Again!

Use your voice to tell the government what you want! Sign BEST's petition to Save Southlands - Again!
Insist upon the completion of the promised Southlands-Morgan's Point land swap by following this link, and signing the petition:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/savesouthlandsagain/

What is the current status of 'Southlands'?

After an apparently successful 15-month campaign to preserve the pristine ‘Southlands’ estate as a national parkland, the agreed land swap between the Bermuda Government and Southlands Ltd. appears to be in serious jeopardy. Southlands Ltd says: “We are going to Morgan’s Point.” The Government says the deal is falling away. BEST is actively monitoring and engaging in these developments. Watch this site for the latest updates and calls to action.

Click 'Read More' to see BEST's Objection to Zoning and Tribunal Presentation on Southlands.

Articles on Southlands

Not sure where the Southlands Campaign stands? Looking to see how it all started?
BEST has compiled links to all of the newspaper articles publishes about Southlands since 2007! Click 'Read More' to see the list.

Top hotel is needed to complete Morgan's Point deal

The Royal Gazette
25/02/10

Government wants Southlands Ltd. to get a five-star hotel chain on board for Morgan's Point before the land exchange is completed, The Royal Gazette can reveal.

A Government spokesman told this newspaper yesterday that the Southlands owners have indicated that their multi-million dollar resort on the former baselands in Southampton is likely to be a Ritz-Carlton, due to their development partner John Ryan's relationship with the brand. But the spokesman said a firmer commitment was needed.

Meanwhile, Ritz-Carlton spokesman Vivian Deuschl said: "I have no indication this development is more than speculative and rumours."

A Southlands Ltd. spokeswoman said: "The Southlands team will be well-positioned to attract a five-star brand once the land swap is completed."

Uncertainty shrouds the future of Southlands

The Royal Gazette
24/02/10

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Southlands will remain in limbo until the conclusion of a land exchange agreement.

Planning regulations mean the Special Development Order (SDO) on the property will take precedence over any re-zoning under the Draft Bermuda Plan 2008.

This means that if the land swap between owners Southlands Ltd. and Government collapses, they can go ahead with plans for a resort on the South Shore property.

Despite a commitment to create a national park once the land exchange goes through, Government is still refusing to comment on why it "supports" tourism zoning at Southlands.

The 37-acre estate will remain in the hands of Southlands Ltd. until the official exchange for 80 acres of Government land at Morgan's Point.

The SDO for the 269-guest suite and 42-residential unit resort plus facilities was approved in July 2007 and has since remained in place, despite Premier Ewart Brown's announcement in April 2008 that it would "most likely" become a national park.

Since Dr. Brown's announcement of the land swap that month, Government has declined to outline its plans for the estate.

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