Government is considering transferring some of its operations to St. George’s and Southside to ease traffic congestion and help the East End economy.

In a statement to the House of Assembly this morning Premier Ewart Brown said Government would conduct a feasibilty study on the issue.

He said there were a number of factors making the study necessary:

* Traffic congestion within Hamilton has become a serious issue which threatens to diminish the efficiency of operating within its limits

* The increase in vehicles generally and the flow of traffic to and from the City has become a quality of life issue for the travelling public

* The waning fortunes of the Town of St. George’s speak volumes about the requirement for even small economies to diversify

* Sustainable development principles encourage us in forward planning to diminish the concentration of working populations.

The Premier added: “A working group led by the Estates Section of the Ministry of Works and Engineering and including the Cabinet Office, the Sustainable Development Unit, the BPSU and the BIU will set about the task of determining suitable locations and what functions of the public service might best be transferred.

“Mr. Speaker, an interim view should be provided within the next 30 days and I look forward to sharing further details with this Honourable House and the public."

* Full story and reaction in tomorrow’s Royal Gazette