The Corporation of Hamilton is planning to visit towns in the US to research a partial pedestrianisation of Hamilton, The Royal Gazette can reveal.

The new Hamilton City Plan will be published in the next few weeks and it recommends pursuing pedestrianisation in lower Reid Street between Burnaby Street and Queen Street.

But the Corporation is keen to look at how similar schemes operate in the US before finally deciding on whether to limit traffic in that area.

Work could start on the scheme in January and be completed by next spring if city officials push ahead with the plans.

Corporation Secretary Roger Sherratt said there was a mixed response from businesses in the area to the idea, with some very enthusiastic and others fearing they could lose customers if they were not allowed to park outside the shops.

He said: "The Corporation and Planning Department feel a pedestrian enhancement plan along lower Reid Street has great merit, but before we commit ourselves to doing it, we want to look at places that have gone along similar lines.

"It is something we look upon as quite an important policy decision and we want to make sure we are doing the right thing. We have to have agreement, we have to have done the research so that we are not surprised by the result.

"Complete pedestrianisation is not on the cards, but a pedestrianisation scheme that greatly reduces traffic is something we are pursuing.'' Mr. Sherratt said the scheme could involve narrowing the road, allowing traffic for commercial deliveries and opening and closing the street to traffic at different times.

Decisions would also need to be taken about improving the appearance of the street through adding flowers and other decorations.

One of the towns the Corporation plans to visit is St. Augustine in Florida, an old settlement which relies on tourism.

A committee of local merchants has been formed to look at pedestrianisation and he expects the matter will be discussed during public meetings about the City Plan.

Mr. Sherratt added: "One of the concerns is that pedestrianisation schemes can result in a loss of business and we are planning to look at other locations to see what they have done to successfully avoid a loss of business.'' Lower Reid Street was pedistrianised for three months in the early 1970's but the plan was a flop but little consideration was given to improving the street's appearance, he said.

Mr. Sherratt added that the Corporation was keen to speak to Bermudians who had witnessed other schemes in similar sized cities to Hamilton which would be suitable for Bermuda.

Trimingham Brother's President Lawrence Trimingham said the loss of parking was a "huge concern'' for his company and others.

He said: "While aesthetically it might be nice to have the street open for pedestrians, there is still the problem of where you put the parking and we, as significant tax-payers to the Corporation, would want to be assured that they were not going to lose parking in the proximity.

"The customer has got to be able to feel he can park easily and fairly nearby to the shops and if they can figure out a way to do that then great.''