The streets of Paget West may not exactly have been taken over by gun-wielding gangs, but fear of crime has nevertheless raised its head in recent months, according to constituents speaking to The Royal Gazette.

Families are calling for lights to be installed on sections of the Railway Trail, near Ord Road, amid concerns about the pockets of illegal behaviour going on yards from their homes.

That area is said to have become a no-go zone late at night, when young people gather to take drugs.

"They come in here to have their smoke or whatever. It's sort of scary sometimes because they can do whatever they want because there's no lighting here and nobody can see them," said one elderly resident of Moongate Lane, who lives close to the Railway Trail.

"We do have the occasional break-in in the neighbourhood. I don't know if they are connected, but a light in the neighbourhood would be a godsend.

"Sometimes just the fact that they are there can be intimidating to the people who live round here, especially the older ones."

Local MP Patricia Gordon-Pamplin, of the United Bermuda Party, has asked Government to install lights on behalf of the Moongate Lane residents.

"People come along the tracks at night and they have to walk past all this nefarious activity that takes place," she said while giving The Royal Gazette a tour of her constituency.

"They believe if there's lighting along here, it would certainly act as a deterrent.

"We have issues here like anywhere else. We have got a nice area, and many of the properties have lots of space, but we still have our issues."

Figures from the last census ten years ago show Paget West has more residents in the top two highest income brackets than anywhere else on the Island.

At times the constituency has been targeted by thieves, with gunmen allegedly targeting one home several months ago as the family sat on their porch.

Residents say they are doing their best to keep trouble at bay with neighbourhood watch initiatives.

Hazel Lowe, who runs Salt Kettle House guesthouse, said: "At one time we did have several break-ins. We have a very good neighbourhood watch, and we always have our ears open for anything suspicious."

Mrs. Lowe said like many in the tourism industry she is concerned about the Island-wide violence even though Paget West remains comparatively gun-free.

"The visitors hate it; they don't know how to deal with it," she said.

"Touch wood I haven't had them say they don't want to come to Bermuda any more, because they still feel secure in Salt Kettle.

"But it's terribly bad for the Island. I'm very blessed to have repeat visitors, but not everyone can say that."

Paget did suffer one notable gun incident last August, when a 19-year-old man was shot in his leg in broad daylight at the junction of Ord Road and Tribe Road No. 5.

Other issues in Paget West include calls for traffic-calming measures in Cherry Hill Park, where families have complained about speeding vehicles near where children play.

Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin said she initially suggested speed bumps but, following complaints from residents, a compromise has been reached with warning signs now due to be erected.

People living near Paget Marsh have complained about rodents, while flashing lights are to go up at a crossing by Paget Service Station.

Next week's Up Your Street visits Warwick South East. Residents of that constituency who want to comment should E-mail tsmith@royalgazette.bm