walkway has created an "extremely dangerous'' situation that has caused motorists to crash into her building.

Mrs. Gardine Haydel, whose Gardine's Flowers 'N Things sits at the top of Water Street, says the changes force traffic coming up from Blacksmith's Hill into York Street to make too sharp a turn "Large trucks turning hit the canopy,'' she said, "and a tourist lady came smack into the building on Monday.

'' The new 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. traffic restriction on Water Street changed the direction of traffic on Blacksmith's Hill on Monday.

Mrs. Haydel suggested traffic should be routed down Blacksmith's Hill to Penno's Wharf instead.

When contacted, Mayor the Wor. Henry Hayward said the pedestrian walkway was an experiment.

"The system is on a two-month trial,'' he said, with its effects on the surrounding area being monitored on a daily basis.

If they decided tomorrow that a certain spot was dangerous, he added, something to improve the system "would be done tomorrow''.

"The traffic had flowed in an easterly direction so long, people just have to get used to this,'' he said. "This is the one and only spot we've had any complaints.

'' St. George's alderman Mrs. Noela Haycock stressed the fact that a great deal of consideration had gone into the Water Street plan.

Mrs. Haycock said that St. George's was just not designed for motor traffic.

The makers of the Water Street plan did their best to ensure the new system would work, even in the narrow streets.

"We had oil trucks and the firetruck turning that corner to see if they could make it comfortably,'' she said.

"If drivers drive with caution and courtesy, there should be no problem. If we change the flow of traffic back, the hill itself becomes a speedway.

"We're not allowed to put speedbumps on public roads, and traffic lights would be out of keeping with the history of the town.'' Mrs. Haydel claimed the authorities were under-exaggerating the danger.

"Someone is going to get hurt very, very bad,'' she said. "I am worried about my well-being, and the safety of everyone in my shop.'' The Streets Committee will meet on Tuesday to discuss the new St. George's traffic system.