Angry retailers attacked Hamilton's new city plan last night, claiming that it was helping to drive away shoppers.

Questioners at the public meeting at City Hall feared pedestrian measures for Reid Street would block off access.

President of Smith's, Roger Davidson, said: "You are effectively discouraging private parking -- if that's the case why isn't Bull's Head car parking lot getting another floor on it immediately? "For beleaguered merchants at this time, to expect customers to come in carrying string bags on the bus that's not on, it isn't going to happen.'' He attacked new tree blocks on Queen Street which he claimed had further eradicated parking and he said the city would die if incentives were not given to bring in customers.

Corporation of Hamilton Secretary Roger Sherratt explained that there were no plans to completely block off Reid Street but the aim was to make it less hazardous for pedestrians.

He denied that a committee on the subject had been filled with only those in support of more pedestrian-friendly measures.

Mr. Sherratt said one of the thrusts of the city plan was to encourage shoppers in motor cars while discouraging car-using commuters and that new places in Number One Shed and in the City Hall car park had been put in with that aim in mind.

He said: "At this point there is no immediate plan to add an extra floor to Bull's Head car park.'' But he said plans for a new car park in Par-la-Ville Road could come about later this year and that it made no sense to start work on Bull's Head before that came on stream because another floor would be lost while Bull's Head was being built on.

Former Premier John Swan said the city plan would be viewed as being merely "changing deck chairs on the Titanic'' unless there was a radical plan to bring tourists and locals to the city.

He said: "My concern is the planners have proposed a physical layout plan for the city but the real issue is how people can enjoy Hamilton and what they are going to find to enjoy.'' He described the city's night-clubs as "dives'' which helped lead to a mass exodus of commuters heading out of Hamilton as soon as work was over.

"We have to be bolder if we are going to attract tourists.'' Court Street businessman Elmore Warren said his area had much of the character missing from elsewhere in the city and was attracting visitors and locals of all races.

He said plans for a market stall in Court Street would detract from the area's vibrancy.

However Mr. Sherratt said many businesses in the area had welcomed the idea because retail was suffering there as well.

Roger Sherratt