making part of Reid Street a pedestrian precinct.

At issue was whether delivery, service and fire vehicles would continue to have access to the busy stretch of road between Burnaby and Queen Streets.

Parking was another prime concern. A number of Reid Street merchants worried a reduction in parking spaces close to their stores would discourage people from shopping in Hamilton.

But some store owners embraced the idea.

A European-style shopping area with outdoor cafes and cobblestones would make Hamilton attractive to shoppers, said manager of Tolaram's boutique on Reid Street.

"It is time to move forward,'' said Mr. Raj Tolaram. "It would add something to the city and would create a central block of shops. It could become a very charming street.'' The proposal to close off the bottom end of Reid Street was put forward for discussion last week at a meeting of the Bermuda Planning Association as a possible solution to relieving traffic congestion in the city.

A Corporation of Hamilton planner said 36 parking spaces would be lost if the road was closed but offset by 860 new bays at the Bull's Head carpark.

Other suggestions put forward at the meeting included changing the traffic flow on Burnaby Street so traffic can turn right from Reid Street.

Mr. Warren Brown Jr. of Archie Brown and Sons admitted he was in favour of the proposal. He said a number of collisions had occurred outside the store between pedestrians and motor vehicles.

"It would be a good thing for Reid Street to become pedestrian and take the traffic out of an area where a lot of people go,'' he said.

"This idea has been touted for years. I think it would be a good idea and a good thing for Bermuda. It is such a protected street and would lend itself well to a European flavour.'' But parking and access for delivery and fire and police vehicles were issues to be taken into consideration, he added.

President of Trimingham Brothers, Mr. Eldon Trimingham objected to any plans to close off Reid Street entirely to traffic.

An in-house store survey last year showed a large number of delivery trucks, post office vehicles and service vans require access to the store from Reid Street.

Many of these cannot adhere to fixed delivery times, he said. Air-conditioning repairmen and other maintenance services needed immediate access at all times.

And he dismissed the possibility of making night time freight deliveries to reduce traffic during the day as "horrendously expensive.'' Overall, he said, closing off the street would make only a marginal difference to shoppers.

General manager of H A & E Smith, Mr. Roger Davidson agreed.

"I'm not terribly enthusiastic about it,'' he said. "Generally I don't think there is much evidence to show that pedestrian shopping malls have been terribly successful.'' He pointed out an earlier attempt to close the street in the winter of 1974 gained little support.

Chamber of Commerce president, Mr. Robert (Bobby) Rego said yesterday he was unable to comment.

But he said the matter would be raised at a January COC meeting.