Hamilton.

Developers should be encouraged to breathe new life into north of Victoria Street, a public meeting heard.

Retired businessman Walter Sinclair Brangman said: "It has become a dead part of the City.'' The 66-year-old also called for greater Police efforts to drive out drug problems in Court Street.

Henry Ming, who runs an architectural business in north Hamilton, believed the "New Orleans'' flavour of the area should be tapped.

He later told The Royal Gazette street vendors should be allocated space to sell their wares.

Others felt the north of Hamilton was losing out as developers put down roots in the west of the City.

The comments came last night at a meeting on a new City Plan, a blueprint for Hamilton's future.

Some 60 people turned up at Cathedral Hall for the event organised by the Planning Department and the Corporation of Hamilton.

Also there were Environment Minister Irving Pearman, Mayor of Hamilton William Frith, Corporation Secretary Roger Sherratt and a senior planning officer.

Mr. Sherratt said the meeting was designed to give people a say in the development of the City.

"We are seeking input and ideas from as wide a cross section of the public as possible.'' Public consultation questionnaires were handed out to those who attended.

Mr. Sherratt made it clear the questionnaires would be more widely distributed. And he pledged the Corporation would consider incorporating suggestions in the City Plan.

Ideas and comments put forward last night included: Alfresco dining spots, such as in Bermudiana Road; Cycle lanes for traffic coming into Hamilton, to ease congestion and make driving safer; More stands for taxi drivers; Introducing American-style legislation to ensure shop doors are not too heavy for the handicapped and elderly; and Improved parking for the disabled and making sidewalks more accessible to them.

One woman criticised planners for taking too short-sighted a view and approaching Hamilton's development in "piecemeal'' fashion.

She said the needs of the City should be considered in tandem with those for Bermuda.

PLANNING PLN