Plans to move civil prisoners to Southside may be pushed back after residents raised fears at a public meeting last night.

Government plans to house 38 prisoners in building 632 on Southside, a three-storey complex next to the old galley and tennis courts of the base.

Public Safety Minister Paula Cox said it was meant to be a temporary measure for 18 months while renovations were done in F building at Westgate.

She said it was part of the Government's plan of alternatives to incarceration.

She said: "We have to stop making people criminals who otherwise are not criminals.

"Currently, legislation is in the works to make alternative sentencing a reality to stop jailing people for civil offences.'' But after the meeting she told The Royal Gazette : "There's no definite date.

Some of the issues raised here must be worked out first.'' Prisoners will be let out to work weekdays but would have to return to the prison at night.

But last night at the New Testament Church of God locals said they were concerned about how transport to and from the facility would be handled and they said lighting around the building was inadequate.

Prisons Commissioner Edward Dyer said prisoners will use public transportation but residents feared they would be mixing with school children waiting for the bus.

Mr. Dyer said prisoners would be put on the third floor of the building with alarms on the doors.

One resident pointed out that children play in the area and raised concerns that convicts would bring drugs into the community.

One resident said: "It was a family atmosphere and now it's becoming a business atmosphere and we are concerned about the loss of things that we moved here for.'' "I am not convinced that the prison will go away in 18 months. We are all aware the prisons are understaffed. I am concerned at the end of the 18 months it's not going to go away.

"It's going to change hands and we are are not going to be told.'' He said income tax had been first been imposed in the US to fund World War Two and it was still there years later.

One woman said it was a slap in the face and that rumours of the plan were circulating a year ago but only now locals were being informed.

Ms. Cox said the Bermuda Land Development Corporation was separate from Government and could turn down the plan -- adding she had only just found out recently that the BLDC had given permission to the project.

PLP MP Wilbur Lowe said: "It may seem there is a communication gap between MPs and Cabinet but that's not true. We just find out in the 11th hour.''