traffic in Flatts Village. These have included suggestions ranging from a boardwalk stretching along the water from St. James' Court to the Aquarium Dock to a road system which would bypass Flatts entirely and allow it to become a walking village.

What is clear to us is that there has to be some solution for what is one of the most beautiful spots in Bermuda. Discussion is back in the news right now because of the efforts of former Visitor Industry Partnership chairman Toppy Cowen and the Aquarium's Richard Winchell. These are people acting in a private capacity and trying to make a difference. Yet it seems to us that they are receiving very little support from Government in their quest to solve the Flatts problem.

There are some helpful signs for Flatts not the least of which is public concern. David A. White has done a prize winning renovation of the old house which was about to fall into the street. Other owners may follow suit. The liquor store is closing which should decrease parking, double parking and "hang about'' customers. Flatts has a natural clientele in terms of two small hotels, the St. James' Court condominiums, and visitors to the Aquarium.

The problem starts with a very narrow road through Flatts and buildings built to the edge of the road, leaving no space for a meaningful sidewalk system.

The traffic problem is then complicated by the need for some parking in order to serve the businesses in the village. A few years ago someone made the crazy and dangerous decision to allow the marine Shell station to also service cars.

It should never have happened but it did and it should now be curtailed to marine service. There are plenty of car service stations already, one at Crawl Hill, one at Collector's Hill and one at North Shore, Smith's Parish.

We think it is fairly clear that most of the businesses and many of the property owners would not take kindly to a decision to reroute traffic around Flatts. As a result there have been suggestions for a slow zone, for warning signs, for speed bumps to slow traffic. Much of that seems to us to be "pie in the sky'' because we doubt that motorists will comply. However the situation might be eased by making Flatts a "no trucks'' zone given the complex traffic and the very narrow roadway.

The traffic pattern is complicated on the edge of the village by the traffic island, the entries into the road from the two hotels and the junction of Harrington Sound Road with the bottom of Flatts Hill. We think Works and Engineering road engineers should be taking a very hard look aimed at simplifying the complex junction.

As for the village itself, the only solution seems to be one way traffic, probably moving west, which would allow for a proper sidewalk. We think that would satisfy business owners because people from the hotels, the Aquarium and the condos would then be able to walk safely and patronise the area. Right now we believe customers are driven out of the village by the traffic. We also think that space to walk might encourage more visitor oriented businesses.