US Consul General Gregory Slayton yesterday warned a car park on a lawn at the Premier's residence Clifton was vital to keep visitors away from a road which is "literally a death trap".

Mr. Slayton said the proposal — which prompted an angry response from former Premier Alex Scott — was the only solution found so far to prevent people having to walk 300 yards from the Arboretum along a busy piece of road to the Consulate.

He added that installing an adequate sidewalk on Middle Road would mean Bermuda's Government seizing property from nearby residents.

However, Mr. Slayton said he was happy to discuss the issue with Mr. Scott, with whom he says the Consulate has a good relationship, and invited alternative suggestions from the former Clifton resident.

He told The Royal Gazette: "We absolutely agree with Mr. Scott that the environment is critical, especially in an island as small as Bermuda.

"But we have to consider that, if not today, or tomorrow, maybe this month, this year, or definitely this decade — someone is going to be injured crossing that road.

"It's a long 300-yard walk across two major roads and there's no sidewalk in parts. To make it a full sidewalk, the Government of Bermuda would have to take people's property. That's a pretty severe solution.

"We have spent a lot of time looking at different solutions. We do want this to be consultative, but what we absolutely don't want is some Bermudian mom pushing her pram, coming to the Consulate for a visa, to get hit by a car.

"We also get elderly people coming here walking along there. If Mr. Scott has an alternative idea, we are all ears.

"We are not saying we have the best idea, but we have got to change this. We can't let this continue as it is literally a death trap."

The plan is for nine asphalt car parking spaces and six motorcycle bays, screened by oleander hedging. A big section of the lawn has already been dug up by Works and Engineering after permission was granted without Government first carrying out consultation.

Mr. Scott's objection means it is now on hold and will have to be considered by the Development Applications Board.

Mr. Scott has also called for Clifton to become a protected site to prevent any repeat action. He says that while Premier Ewart Brown may choose to live in his own luxury private home, Clifton should be maintained for future Premiers.