A strategy is being thrashed out to strike at crime and parking problems in North Hamilton, the city's Mayor said yesterday.

The Rt. Wor. William Boyle said ideas included: Beefing up Police foot patrols; Setting up a permit scheme so residents can be guaranteed parking by their homes; and Putting up brighter lights in Court Street after the trial run in Dundonald Street.

In a wide-ranging interview, Mr. Boyle also told The Royal Gazette of plans being considered for other parts of Hamilton, such as: Installing surveillance cameras in crime black spots, including the City Hall parking lot which has become a haunt for bike thieves; Extending two-hour parking bays for shoppers; and Shortening the time allowed for unloading and loading outside businesses from one hour to 30 minutes.

The measures are being reviewed with business associations in North Hamilton, the Chamber of Commerce and the Police.

It is just over a year since Mr. Boyle took over as Mayor from Mr. Cecil Dismont.

And, despite the pressures of the post, he has no regrets about taking on the challenge.

Doffing a hat to his Corporation of Hamilton colleagues, he said: "I have found it very enjoyable. I have been very fortunate in having such nice people to work with.'' Mr. Boyle touched on some of the major projects which the Corporation has been working on.

Chief among them is the $5.5 million Bull's Head multi-storey car park.

When completed it will hold 720 cars -- and with a further 140 parking spaces already in use at Bull's Head -- there will be space for 860 cars.

A spate of bad weather had disrupted the construction, but plans were now back on track, said Mr. Boyle.

"It is coming on nicely, and we hope to have it finished by November, which is almost on schedule.

"For a while we were ahead of schedule, then we fell behind a bit, and now with the good weather we are catching up.'' Part of the Corporation's traffic management strategy would be paid on-street parking, Mr. Boyle explained.

The area covered would be from Front Street to Victoria Street, and from Bermudiana Road as far east as Court Street.

A key reason for parking fees, set to be introduced shortly, was to fund the building of the car park.

Mr. Boyle said city parking problems had been made worse by the closure of Bull's Head.

"Once we get it open we are going to have to encourage people to use Bull's Head,'' he said.

He added the Corporation was working with the Chamber of Commerce to solve the problem of commercial vehicles clogging up streets.

One idea under consideration was shortening the time allowed at loading and unloading zones.

Too many van drivers abused the privilege, using zones while they went about other business, such as taking a tea break, he declared.

In addition, North Hamilton residents had complained about being prevented from parking outside their homes, said Mr. Boyle.

"The problem is that people park on the back streets, and then walk to work in the city, taking advantage of free parking. As a result, residents find their quality of life is being ruined.'' Mr. Boyle said one possible solution was a scheme under which North Hamilton residents could apply to the Corporation for a permit to entitle them to a guaranteed parking slot.

He did not anticipate there being any charge for such a permit.

"We are really reviewing the whole situation of parking in Hamilton.'' Mr. Boyle gave an update on another Corporation scheme -- a new three-lane ramp at No 8 Gate to pull tractor-trailers off Front Street.

"That should be done in June,'' he said, adding plans were also in hand to spruce up the entrance to the dock.

On crime problems, Mr. Boyle said he had held talks with the new Police Commissioner Mr. Colin Coxall -- and had left the meeting with a great sense of optimism.

One measure was to increase foot patrols in North Hamilton, and build up relations between the Police and the business community in the area.

Mr. Boyle understood Police had manpower restrictions, but he hoped moves to switch officers from clerical jobs to normal operational duties would benefit the city.

Another anti-crime idea was surveillance cameras, but this had yet to be explored fully.

"We need to look at the costs.''