A petition against the creation of a new parking lot near the Shelly Bay playground has garnered about 1,000 signatures, according to organisers.

The proposed parking lot is one part of the Shelly Bay Beach House plan to create a new restaurant and provide additional public amenities at the existing Shelly Bay concessions area.

Developer Tom Steinhoff has stated the parking lot would remain shut during the day in summer months unless the existing parking area was full, but give customers easier access in the winter months and during the evenings.

However, members of the public have expressed reservations about the parking lot, both for safety reasons and the project’s use of public land. More than 200 people attended a public meeting on the subject at Francis Patton Primary School and a petition against the proposal was circulated.

Area resident Cheryl-Ann Griffin, representing those who are against the creation of the parking lot, said the proposed location would pose a risk to children at the playground and the viability of a nearby mangrove swamp.

She said that on Friday, representatives of the community met with Craig Cannonier, the Minister of Public Works, along with Mr Steinhoff and government staff.

“Both sides shared their perceptions of the impact of this plan,” she said.

“Mr Steinhoff was asked to withdraw his application on the basis that community objection was very strong and that he was encroaching on the public free use of public land for a private enterprise.

“Mr Steinhoff’s main argument was that he does not want his patrons to have to walk to the restaurant in the rain.

“The rebuttal suggested that every popular waterside restaurant in Bermuda has as long of a walk, even in the rain, and it has been proven that it is the product, not the parking, which is of utmost concern to patrons.

“Another argument considered the fact that Mr Steinhoff wants this parking area to be exclusive to his patrons. This is not possible and would prove illegal because it is on public property.

“Therefore, anyone can park there for the beach or the playground which would nullify the reason for its existence. Community representatives presented workable alternative solutions to this current impasse, to which consideration was promised by both Mr Steinhoff and the minister.”

Members of the community have also made it known that Mr Steinhoff’s suggested “help” to the community by providing amenities for “picnickers and beach goers, school and camp groups” is not needed or wanted.

While Mr Steinhoff has said the project would help to create jobs for Bermudians, Ms Griffin said the suggestion was merely a distraction from the matter of erecting a parking lot on a popular public picnic ground.