Plans have been drawn up to build two multi-storey car parks in the historic town of St. George.

Councillors in the Corporation of St. George's are also considering introducing parking meters next year for the first time in a bid to tackle traffic congestion.

Two sites -- at Penno's Wharf and next to the Bermuda Electric Light Company's car park -- have been identified in the town's heritage plan for two-storey car parks.

Councillors said initial sketches of the car parks indicate they will be unobtrusive and will not disrupt the historic ambience of the town.

The Corporation is currently negotiating with the Spurling family to buy the car park next to the Belco car park.

Councillor David Raine, of the Corporation's streets committee, said: "We are in negotiations with the Spurling family who own the site. If successful, we would then be in a position to consider the possibility of a multi-storey car park.'' The Corporation owns the site at Penno's Wharf which has been earmarked for the other multi-storey car park.

Mr. Raine said the Corporation was also considering moving the St. George's fire service to Penno's Wharf if the multi-storey car park is built.

"The Corporation has always been sensitive about new buildings and from the tentative sketches we have seen, they do not impact unduly on the profile of the State House, which is a landmark building,'' he said.

"The initial sketches take into consideration the profile as seen from the sea at the eastern tip of Ordnance Island.'' Mr. Raine said the plans were at a "conceptual level'' taken from the heritage plan, which was drawn up about three years ago.

Although the Corporation is in favour of the multi-storey car parks, no date has been set for their construction, nor have detailed plans been drawn-up.

"We are desperately short of parking spaces in town and we want to develop these so people can park in town. There are a lot of narrow streets and on-road parking is a problem,'' Mr. Raine said.

He said plans for introducing parking meters in the town were under "serious consideration'', which could see them installed next year.

St. George's Mayor Lois Perinchief said she was optimistic the negotiations to buy the land next to the Belco car park would be successful.

She said it may be two or three years before the multi-storey car parks are built because the Corporation's first financial priority was to build a terminal for the new fast ferries which are due to begin calling at the town next year or in 2001.