Right from the start, the overall plans to revitalise the West End included evening and night-time amusements. Tourists and locals would flock to Dockyard to wander around the beautifully restored buildings, see a movie, have a drink in the pub, cool out in the jazz club or enjoy a leisurely dinner.

As the West End development programme nears completion, most of these amenities are in place.

But, so far, the folks are not flocking there. And there's one good reason: lack of public transportation.

Already a feeling of disappointment and frustration exists among those who have invested faith and money in the West End programme. With the last ferry departing Dockyard at 7.10 p.m. (5.30 on Sundays and public holidays) and buses at 7.05 p.m. with almost a four-hour wait for the final bus at 11.50 p.m., there are many who believe that a golden opportunity to re-focus the leisure opportunities of this Island is in danger of being lost.

"The success of this area is dependent on water transportation. It's the logical -- and nicest -- way to get here for a night out,'' says WEDCO Commercial Development Manager, Mr. Ed Williams.

"We have been pushing for evening ferries but if the Government isn't going to co-operate, we might look into the possibility of providing some sort of water taxi service. At the moment, the ferry system just isn't working -- not for tourists, locals or commuters.'' Mr. Williams estimates that 80 percent of the people who visit Dockyard are locals and makes the point that with the Boaz Island complex, there are now a sizable number of people in the West End who would also like to have access to public transport to visit Hamilton in the evenings.

"This is a two-way problem. I would have thought that Government would consider this as a revenue earner.'' He doesn't believe that full use has been made of Marine and Ports' potential and that the whole question of transportation for the West End needs to be re-evaluated. "I would like to see people come up with some creative thinking. Why couldn't we have a ferry or some sort of water taxi plying between Dockyard and St. George's, for instance?'' Mr. Williams is just one of a number of people who feel that far too little attention has been paid to the potential of water travel, arguing that if ferries ran on a shuttle basis, vehicle congestion on the roads would lessen overnight. The idea of reducing travel on Bermuda's inadequate roads by increasing travel potential on the water makes sense for a tiny island surrounded by the ocean, he says.

He believes the beleaguered Department of Transport, wringing their hands at ever-increasing traffic, would do well to consider the options. "I just wish that all the parties concerned would sit down and consider all the possibilities -- and not throw their usual defeatist daggers at every suggestion that comes up,'' he exclaims.

Mr. Williams also feels that more use could be made of cruise ship tenders in the future. "During the cruise season (April to October) locals should also be able to use the tenders. When the contract was first arranged, there was nothing much up here, so we had to make an immediate link with Hamilton for our cruise passengers, but now there is a combination of people who could be shipped in and out, so hopefully, when contracts are renewed, this possibility will be given careful consideration.'' He also points out that an evening ferry ride to the West End and back would provide a pleasant, yet inexpensive night out and provide the public with a new leisure alternative.

Mr. Bill Meade, proprietor of The Blue Oyster restaurant estimates that his revenue has been halved because of the lack of public transport. "We get bookings from hotel guests who cancel when they find out how much a taxi is going to cost and almost all our local clientele tell us they would come more often if it weren't for the long drive out.'' Drivers planning on having a few drinks are hardly being encouraged to leave the car or bike safely at home when the only alternative is an expensive taxi fare.

"It makes you wonder why they bothered providing pubs and things if there's no way of getting there or back,'' says one disgruntled Paget resident. He abandoned plans to check out the new Frog and Onion pub when he discovered there was no ferry.

Mrs. Audrey Brackstone, Manager of the Craft Market and former Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce says that none of the people employed at the West End are able to use the ferry on a regular basis. "It's fine in the morning, but unless you can be sure of catching the 5.15 ferry, you're stuck.'' She would like to keep the Craft Market open in the evenings, especially for the benefit of the cruise ships, but says it would be quite impractical without a ferry or bus service. She suggests the creation of a new ferry stop at Spanish Point, with a parking area, "so when we have the cruise ships in, we could get to Dockyard and back in about twenty minutes.'' Mrs. Brackstone also sees a need for some sort of transportation ("even golf-carts!'') within the Dockyard area, especially for the benefit of older tourists. "WEDCO is a quasi-Government operation. If a ferry and bus service can't be provided, I don't see why private enterprise shouldn't be similarly encouraged with subsidies for fuel costs.'' She is adamant that a shuttle service between Dockyard and Somerset is urgently required, possibly small electric buses that constantly move through the approximate two-mile area. "It would also provide summer work for college students.'' Mrs. Suzie Cooper, owner and operator of Turkish Delights in the Clocktower Building, says that shops in the complex do stay open at night if there is a special function. "I'm sure that we would all be very interested in staying open later on a regular basis if we had a guaranteed source of transport. It's one of the problems that is always discussed whenever we have our meetings.'' Mr. Chris West, who just took over the Frog and Onion, is dismayed by the lack of co-operation in providing transportation. "It's essential that we have a ferry leave here at around midnight,'' he declares.

Meanwhile, he is joining the small group of entrepreneurs who, rather as a last resort, are now looking into the possibility of hiring some sort of tour boat.

Somerset Village was complaining, with some cause, about the lack of evening transportation long before Dockyard was developed.

Mr. Rudy Dowling, of Loyalty Inn, is exasperated with the situation. "Tourism is a service business and we are unable to give the service we should. This lack of buses and ferries hits all of the restaurants up here -- it's our biggest headache.

"People on the ships would like to come over some nights for a meal or a drink, but they have no way of getting here unless they get a taxi.'' He points out that the Sandys Taxi Company closes down at 11 p.m. "Quite often, I end up taking people back in my own car because other taxi services don't want to come out here. It's all a terrible problem.'' Sandys Taxi Company, which has been operating two mini-buses around the West End, currently provides that service until 1 p.m., maintaining there is "no demand'' after that. There are plans for an extension to 5 p.m. during the cruise ship season, "maybe in May.'' Contacted yesterday, Marine and Ports Director, Mr. Ronald Ross said: "We have considered an evening service to Dockyard and the basic results were that there wouldn't be sufficient use by the public to make it viable, especially bearing in mind Government's budgetary restrictions in force right now.'' He said his Department was, however, always open to suggestions. "But we would have to be sure that we could expect a reasonable return.'' HEADING FOR HAMILTON -- but not often enough. The West End is complaining that the lack of evening ferries is hurting business Mr. Ed Williams Mrs. Audrey Brackstone.