Sandys Parish residents will present their plans for the former Canadian base lands at Daniel's Head at a public meeting next week.

And Sandys Action Group member Gerald Fubler told The Royal Gazette the group hoped that Government backbencher Ann Cartwright DeCouto, Somerset farmer Richard Bascome, and a representative from the National Trust will attend.

The meeting -- scheduled to be held at St. James' Church Hall at 7.30 p.m. on July 16 -- will be the group's first public meeting since Parliament rejected an amendment to remove the Daniel's Head area from the jurisdiction of the planned Bermuda Land Development Company which will take over the management of the Island's former base lands for 131 years.

Sandys residents -- through Sandys South PLP MP Walter Roberts -- have argued against turning the Daniel's Head into a "tourism-oriented'' area.

Mr. Roberts told the House of Assembly, during its last meeting before the summer recess, that residents received help from professionals in putting together their plan.

Their plan included converting buildings at the site into a security station, a culture restaurant selling farm and fish produce, offices, boat rentals, warehouses, and a caretaker's residence.

They have also suggested ideas for a cultural centre displaying arts and crafts, a multi-purpose area for camping, and a single apartment complex for senior citizens.

In addition to this, residents said beaches could be expanded for recreational needs, tennis and basketball courts could be leased to professionals, and sailing programmes could be created at Daniel's Head.

Residents also believe that a horse path or a cycle track could be set up around the area.

They have also called for a youth centre to be set up at Daniel's Head.

Mr. Fubler and parents of some 200 Somerset children have been fighting for a facility for years.

And they recently presented Youth Minister Tim Smith with a petition with more than 1,000 signatures.

But Mr. Smith said Government had offered four alternative locations.

And he told the House that it was wrong to assume that the Bermuda Land Development Company would not consider Daniel's Head for community and recreational use.

Finance Minister Grant Gibbons said taking out Daniel's Head would send the wrong signal to the community and would place the entire base lands development at risk.

Moreover, he said, it would cost Government $1 million to maintain the grounds if the amendment went through and a subsequent $765,000 each year after that.