Monday's Street Talk story on the Corporation of Hamilton's plan to stop free parking mistakenly attributed a quotation to Mrs. Sabrina Talbot. Mrs. Talbot was not interviewed for the story.

Good, bad and indifferent could sum up reactions to a scheme to introduce paying parking all over Hamilton.

"It's completely ridiculous'' was a frequent response from shoppers in Hamilton on Wednesday afternoon. But so was: "It's a very good idea.'' As of January, car owners must pay about 50 cents an hour for the privilege of parking between Victoria and Front Streets and Court Street and Bermudiana Road.

Motorists will be able to purchase books of vouchers from the Corporation of Hamilton. By scratching boxes indicating the time, day and month the car was parked and displaying the voucher, the driver will be able to park for one hour.

While some thought the scheme would help reduce Hamilton's chronic traffic congestion others thought it was a money making venture for the Corporation of Hamilton.

"It's going to cause an uproar,'' said Mr. Kevin Maybury. "And if it doesn't, it should. It will just add to the financial frustration people are going through. It's not just another straw, it's more like a plank.'' "Nothing is free in Bermuda anymore,'' said a Hamilton shop assistant. "We have to pay for everything now. It's all about making money.'' "It's a rip-off,'' said another. "I hope that the bus system is going to be good.'' And according to the owner of a Washington Mall boutique: "I was so hurt I stopped reading (the newspaper). It's the Corporation's way of making money.'' But he admitted that paid parking could help relieve problems of traffic congestion. "I feel like buying a bike now and doing away with the car,'' he said.

Bank of Bermuda employee Mr. Kenneth Dill also thought that fewer people would be bringing their cars into Hamilton.

"I think that it will ease up congestion,'' said Mr. Dill. There won't be as many people in the city taking up parking spaces for hours. I will think twice about taking my car into Hamilton.'' The manager of a Front Street liquor store said that the voucher system would be a better alternative to the present one-hour parking restrictions.

"I think it's a great idea,'' she said. "At the moment everyone is running out all the time and moving their cars and then they can't find anywhere to put them.

"It would be better than what we have now. This way, if you want to park your car for three hours you just use up three coupons.'' But some shop owners feared that the restricted parking would be injurious to their businesses.

"People can't even go to shop now. It's crazy,'' said Mrs. Sabrina Talbot, owner of Sabrina's on the Washington Mall. "I'm certainly not going to pay.

It's getting like the States but Bermudians are not used to all that.'' "We will be affected,'' said sales manager at Trimingham's, Mrs. Anjula Bean.

"People are going to think that it's going to cost them to come into town and shop. Especially for us on Front Street, where people are used to just parking outside and nipping in for something. Still, it will be cheaper than in the States and Canada.'' But Mr. Kirk Marks, head goldsmith at Walker Christopher, said Hamilton shoppers would not be deterred by the new charges on parking.

"People have to come into town anyway so they'll pay,'' he said. "There will be some noise about it though.'' Paid parking is a way of life in other cities in the world according to Mr.

Raj Tolaram. "We have to pay for everything in the end,'' he said.

Bermudians travel abroad frequently and are used to paying parking restrictions was the opinion of taxi driver, Mr. Myron Woolridge. "People will just pay their 50 cents,'' he said.

Others said the voucher system would simply be a nuisance.

"Nobody will know where to get the tickets from,'' said Ms Margo Mulder, a cosmetic consultant at Trimingham's.

"It complicates everything a bit more,'' said Mr. Christopher Edwards.

"We're going to have to pay to shop, even go to the bank.'' But whatever the opinion, everyone agreed that Bermudians will be grumbling next January.

"We will probably see fewer cars -- but more angry people,'' said customer service agent, Mr. Mikkel Harris.

Mr. Christopher Edwards Mr. Mikkel Harris Mr. Kenneth Dill Ms Margo Mulder Mr. Kirk Marks Mr. Myron Woolridge