shopping area in Smith's South.

Residents near the Collectors Hill-South Road junction have voiced fears about cars reversing into South Road.

They say traffic has increased greatly in recent years, and the area has become a mini shopping centre.

"It is only a matter of time before an accident occurs,'' said one resident, Mr. David Lopes.

Cars parked in front of the A1 store, the Collectors Hill Apothecary, and the Speciality Inn often back into the path of traffic on South Road.

They also obstruct cars coming out of Collectors Hill, it is claimed.

Police admit the area is a problem, although no accidents have yet been reported.

The problem was witnessed yesterday by a Royal Gazette reporter.

All three buildings have ample parking lots behind and at the side, she observed.

But although signs tell customers there is parking in the back, very few take advantage of it. The area is largely residential, and the road often congested with delivery vans, buses and tourists on cycles.

Traffic increases markedly at peak times, with motorists leaving for and returning from work.

Details of plans to solve the problem are not clear yet.

Mr. David Rowntree, chairman of the Smith's South branch of the United Bermuda Party, however, said he understood they included building a wall, and possibly sidewalks.

These would extend, he explained, from the extreme west end of the Apothecary, by the bus stop, to the far east end of the A1 supermarket, and possibly further.

This would ensure cars could not back onto the road. Local businesses are understood to back the project.

Residents have told of a big increase in development in the area.

They say it has become a miniature shopping centre, with the supermarket, restaurant, and drugstore.

Also in the area are Coral Cleaners, Tradewinds Travel Ltd., the Cottage Bakery, Needles `N Things, and Phase 1 Video.

Said Mr. Lopes: "People coming up to the stop sign at the bottom of Collectors Hill see no traffic coming on South Road, then pull out, just as someone else is pulling out of the parking lot. I've seen this happen.'' He, and others, believe it is only a matter of time before an accident occurs.

Mr. Lopes said the problem would be easy to avoid by enforcing parking at the back and sides of the building.

Mr. Rowntree said residents had a chance to submit plans to the local council a few years ago.

The matter was then turned over to the Department of Works and Engineering, he added.

The project is expected to begin before the end of the year.

TRAFFIC NIGHTMARE -- The Collectors Hill-South Road junction yesterday.