shape before the end of the summer.

Top of the list for the rejuvenation of the area -- which has an estimated flow of 15,000 vehicles a day -- is traffic calming and the banning of trucks.

But officials are also happy to see the proposed bridge across the Inlet remain on the back burner.

The Flatts Village Development Committee (FVDC) has held talks with the Government and they believe help is at hand to see their ambitions come to fruition.

Of those surveyed, 85 percent thought pedestrian safety was appalling and two-thirds believed the village was in either fair or poor condition.

In addition to traffic measures, they see improved sidewalks, antique lighting, upgrading of the aquarium bridge and public dock, and a sprucing up of the village as paramount.

Co-chairman W. A. (Toppy) Cowen said: "We are really excited, the Minister of the Environment seems to be quite keen on Flatts, it has history and it is his opinion that it should be preserved and improved upon wherever we can.

"I am fairly convinced that we have commitment from the Ministry, they will go ahead with something -- to what extent I am not sure.'' A public meeting is to be held on March 18.

The initial proposals will be aired at the meeting and people will be able to see drawings of what the committee has come up with.

But an important part of the process will be feedback from residents, on what they would like to see, or not.

Environment Minister Arthur Hodgson said he would be attending the meeting.

He wanted to gauge exactly what the people of Flatts wished to see. If there was a desire for change, he would take that direction from the people, he said.

The FVDC say one of the main results of public surveys is the request -- 80 percent -- for traffic calming measures.

And 90 percent of those asked want more sidewalks.

Mr. Cowen believes a truck ban and a roundabout at the junction close to the Palmetto Bay Hotel, coupled with speed bumps or a reduction in the speed limit, would revolutionise the village.

And he challenged the new Government to lead by example and ban official trucks from using the village as a through route.

Pavements would be re-laid with cobbles or stones similar to those used in the redevelopment of St. George's.

In the long term, improvements to the Railway Trail, linking Shelly Bay to Gibbets Island and possibly the bridge across the Inlet, are seen as possibles.

Mr. Cowen is hoping many of the minor changes will be made by October.

In that month the second Flatts Village Festival will take place.

Other features earmarked for the future include a craft market, fruit, fish and vegetable stands.

The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at the Whitney School on March 18.

Excited by ideas: FVDC co-chairman W.A. (Toppy) Cowen