some of the strain on Bermuda's congested roads.

With too much traffic on the road already, the last thing most drivers want to deal with is navigating around a double-parked car -- especially during rush hour.

And according to the Corporation, they shouldn't have to do so.

"Double parking is one of the single biggest problems in Hamilton,'' said Corporation secretary Roger Sherratt. "And one of the biggest problems in relation to double-parking, is that we have a lot of goods vehicles who need to make deliveries every day and find it almost impossible to find an empty loading zone.

"The Corporation did a survey of City centre loading zones earlier this year which clearly showed that at least 40 percent of vehicles parked in loading zones actually were service vehicles which were not loading or unloading.

Another 40 percent were goods vehicles that did no or little loading at all and belonged to a business or was an LP vehicle.'' According to Mr. Sherratt, those driving the vans were either carrying out repairs to computers or air conditioners, getting a bite to eat, doing their shopping, or going to the bank.

"It was clear that the use had changed greatly from what it was originally intended -- to be there for the purpose of loading and unloading goods.'' The Corporation, he said, has been looking at solutions to the problem and has held meetings with various groups such as the Chamber of Commerce and major wholesalers, to reach that end.

"Following discussions, we have come up with a plan to be implemented within the next six to eight weeks,'' he added. "It will provide for a ten-minute rule for parking in loading zones unless the vehicle is being loaded or unloaded as the traffic warden goes by.

"We will create special service vehicle parking areas in the City centre which are to be used only by vehicles issued with a special permit by the Corporation. The permit is likely to be in the region of $1,000 a year, but will give the vehicle unlimited parking in those special parking areas which will be strategically located around the City as close as possible to areas where they would be carrying out service calls.'' Special parking bays will also be created in some of the City car parks for Hamilton-based goods vehicles. There will be an annual fee, in the region of $720 a year, for parking in them, he said.

"Our intent is obviously to keep loading zones just for loading and unloading, to reduce double parking by commercial vehicles.'' To keep on top of illegal parkers, he added, Government has hired additional traffic wardens who will be asked to pay very close attention, not only to the new loading zone rules, but to all double parking.

"Any one who double parks can expect to be ticketed. The Corporation has also held discussion with Police about having officers on cycle patrol streets during the daytime to monitor City parking.'' Mr. Sherratt added that the Corporation's Street Committee Alderman, David A.

White, has spent a great deal of time and effort looking at positive solutions to the traffic problem.

"This new system has only been proposed after a great deal of careful thought and we believe it is a very practical solution,'' he said.

Roger Sherratt GOVERNMENT GVT 100 YEARS ANNIVERSARY ANN