A Shadow Minister has called on Government to introduce a blueprint for night schools -- to avoid a housing crisis.

The Progressive Labour Party's Stanley Morton wants more people to be encouraged to take up night classes so they can command better pay at work.

He made the calls after slamming plans to redevelop old US Navy quarters for housing as "unaffordable for ordinary people''.

Mr. Morton is the PLP's spokesman for housing.

And he said proposed rents for the new three-bedroom houses at St. David's could not be afforded by "average working families''.

Now he is seeking support from union leaders for subsidised night classes and more evening creche facilities so working people can upgrade their skills.

He believes that will help them in demands for better salaries.

Mr. Morton said: "It is good that some thought has been given to introducing new houses on the site. But the proposed rents of $1,750 to $2,300 a month will simply be too much for working men and women.

"I would like to see the Government develop a night school programme across the Island, with facilities to look after children and cheap fees, possibly subsidised.

"This would help poorer families afford the rents being charged at St.

David's and the emphasis would not fall on the BLDC to find extra revenue from elsewhere.'' Developers at the BLDC said they would invest $60,000 in each of the 54 units at Southside to "Bermudianise'' the properties.

Revenue from the rents will help pay for different strands of a massive 30-year regeneration project, including proposals to relocate Hamilton's container docks at St. David's.

Lois Perinchief, Deputy Mayor of St. George's, said: "I also feel that the rents being asked for these new properties will be too high for the average person.

"It's also important to remember that some of those who want the housing may be elderly people out of the workplace so some thought needs to be given to lowering the rents.'' MAJOR PLAN -- Bermuda Land Development Company chief executive officer Carl Musson shows a map of the proposed redevelopment of Southside.

Graphic file name: PLANN