how Bermuda's base lands should be used.

"I think if there was a very clear, easy consensus, they probably wouldn't have needed to do a study,'' said Mr. Bob Pell, managing director of the London-based planning firm EDAW.

Bermudians do agree on one thing, Mr. Pell said. The Bases are seen as "a long-term opportunity,'' and nobody wants "a rush decision'' on how they are used.

Meetings to seek public input on the future of the Bases begin on Monday at Southampton Glebe School.

Three public meetings, all beginning at 7.30 p.m., will be conducted by EDAW and Bermuda architects Barker & Linberg. The two companies were hired by Government to develop a land use strategy for the US Naval Air Station at St.

David's, the US Naval Annex and Tudor Hill in Southampton, and the Canadian Forces Station at Daniel's Head.

The second meeting is slated for Tuesday at Number One Shed in Hamilton, and the third for Wednesday, February 8 at St. David's Primary School.

As well as inviting ideas from the public, EDAW will be getting reaction to some general proposals about how the lands might be used, Mr. Pell said.

The Southampton meeting will concentrate on the West End Bases, the Hamilton meeting will deal with all the Bases, and the meeting in St. David's will concentrate on the Naval Air Station, he said.

And the meetings will be kept informal, with the audiences breaking into small groups for discussion, Mr. Pell said.

"We want people to express their ideas, hopes and concerns about how these lands should and should not be used,'' Management and Technology Minister the Hon. Grant Gibbons said. "The more people who play a part in these meetings, the more relevant the planning document that emerges will be to our future.'' Bermuda assumes control of Airport operations on June 1 and the US Navy pulls out on September 1.

EDAW, which made a short presentation to Cabinet yesterday, is interviewing representatives of about 45 bodies like unions, the Chamber of Commerce, the Department of Education, and King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.