A large section of Par-la-Ville Park could soon be uprooted to make way for a new energy substation if the Corporation of Hamilton approves Belco's latest scheme.

The Mid-Ocean News understands that Belco presented its plans for an overhaul of Hamilton's energy delivery to Mayor Sutherland Madeiros and other members of the Corporation earlier this year.

The electricity company stressed that the current Par-la-Ville substation ¿ located at the Par-la-Ville car park ¿ has now reached capacity. Belco also expressed concern that the current car park substation site is also the proposed location for the mooted Ritz Carlton hotel, which could cause a serious problem should construction go ahead on the luxury resort in 2009, as planned.

Sources close to the project tell the Mid-Ocean News that Belco has asked the Corporation to consider a "facility upgrade". In a move expected to anger environmental activists and city workers alike, the chosen location for the new substation is the northwest corner of Par-la-Ville Park itself, a popular lunch spot for locals and a tourist attraction in its own right.

Belco explained to the Mayor and the Corporation that in its view, corroborated with that of architects Lindberg and Simmons, this section of the park would be the easiest to reinstate following the construction of the substation.

The electricity company told the Mayor that the necessary equipment for such an ambitious project could take up to a year to procure, adding that it was anxious to obtain Corporation approval as soon as possible.

The current substation at the Par-la-Ville car park supplies electricity for the vast majority of businesses in Hamilton's central business district of Front, Reid and Queen Streets, including offices, shops, and restaurants. With a projected growth in electricity demand of two per cent each year in the city, Belco intends to have the new substation in place by the summer of 2010, leaving less than two years until completion.

The power company stressed to Corporation members that many of the proposed construction projects in Hamilton ¿ including the Ritz Carlton, but also any future development on the waterfront ¿ would add to the load at the Par-la-Ville substation. Without an upgrade, Belco argued, it would not necessarily be possible to keep the lights on in Hamilton.

Belco and the Corporation are now deliberating over another potential substation in a different part of the city. There is currently no dedicated substation for the north east Hamilton area, with a network of overhead wires still supplying electricity to this predominantly residential district.

While the power company had hoped to move many of these cables underground at Court Street, Belco admitted to the Mayor that such a project was proving difficult. While Belco suggested Ewing Street as an alternate location earlier this year, the Corporation is said to have refused permission.

In a presentation to the Corporation, Belco estimated that the proposed substation projects would cost about $100 million and would take six years to complete. The electricity provider added that the ambitious construction plans would require the input of skilled engineers and the cooperation of the public. Importantly, Belco highlighted the need to obtain planning permission for the use of public park land.

The company admitted that the cooperation of the island's public and private authorities would be one of its main challenges in seeing this plan to fruition.