The mastermind behind the planned eco-campground at Daniel's Head has assured West End residents that they will not be kicked off the site to make way for visitors.

And he stressed that it was essential for the local community to become involved in the development.

At a packed public meeting at St. James' Church, Somerset late last week Stanley Selengut, head of Campers Villages LLC, the company responsible for the project, said: "I am very excited and hope that I can be accepted and can start some dialogue with the local community.

"Our customers will be the type of people who will want to get to know the local community ,'' he said. "I hope that in one-and-a-half years time you will slap me on the shoulder and say you have given a lot more than you have taken.'' "Our customers are looking to have a cross-cultural experience by seeing how other people live and by trying out different foods. They are a lot more physical and want to know about local hospitality and culture.'' Mr. Selengut said the resort could become a haven for local craftsmen who wanted to show off their skills.

He added that the site would also drum up business in the west end for other retailers because, without transport, many visitors would be staying within the area.

When members of the audience expressed concern that they would be losing a part of the Island, Mr. Selengut insisted that there would be a degree of public access. And he said that locals would still be able to use Daniel's Head beaches on the proviso the camp's behavioural standards were respected by Bermudians.

A planning application for the development has already been submitted to the Development Applications Board and the companies registrar has received an application from Destination Villages Daniel's Head, Bermuda Ltd to run the site as a subsidiary of Mr. Selengut's parent company.

The opening could be delayed if Parliamentary approval is not granted by the end of the next session, but Mr. Selengut hinted that he could be open for business by the Millennium even if construction had not been completed.

"I think it will be a real focus for the year 2000,'' he said.

"If you ask where the world is heading in the next 1,000 years then recycling pops up like a balloon.''