A 40-metre underground pedestrian tunnel is planned to link a proposed new multi-level carpark with the Reid Street mall, it was revealed yesterday.

Corporation of Hamilton secretary Roger Sherratt and a bevy of small retailers fired back after several major retailers criticised the pedestrianisation of lower Reid Street in Friday's Royal Gazette .

Chiefs at Trimingham Brothers and AS Coopers and Sons criticised the City of Hamilton plan which could see all traffic and parking banned on Reid Street between Queen and Burnaby Streets as early as next year.

They predicted the project would "deaden'' the area and be a "disaster'' because it would cut back even further the already limited number of parking spaces available for serious shoppers.

But Mr. Sherratt yesterday detailed some plans in the pipeline which would increase parking spaces for shoppers to enable the mall to go ahead.

One of those schemes is the $60 million luxury business hotel complex at the Par-la-Ville carpark site which is slated to include a multi-level underground carpark with several hundred spaces. Plans are being drawn up for a sheltered tunnel which will lead from the carpark -- to be run by the Corporation of Hamilton -- directly into the heart of Reid Street, making the journey a mere 30-second walk for shoppers.

"Negotiations are still going on for this project but we are pretty confident of a decision very soon.

"The Corporation is hopeful the developers will finalise these details within two or three months.'' He said in-depth research had led him to believe the majority of retailers were supportive of the pedestrianisation plan.

"A lot of stores are behind this plan but everybody has concerns that it must be done properly. We know two major issues which need to be solved are parking and delivery or service vehicle access.

"It has been suggested if we could we should do it for next year but there are issues that need to be resolved. The Corporation does not intend to do anything until there's a broad consensus that it should be done.

"There's a lot of groundwork needed and we appreciate critical input.'' Phoenix stores president and CEO George Grunmuller said his organisation was "very supportive'' of the pedestrian-only shopping zone which he believes was vital to reinvigorate tourism in Bermuda.

"It's an exciting concept which will bring many smaller shopping centres together to make a different shopping experience in the heart of town. It could also create another tourist attraction where visitors could head.

"Of course in order for it to work it must be done properly to make it distinct from anywhere else -- perhaps cobblestones and trees would help do that -- but doing it half way will not work.

"The comments about parking are valid so the Corporation needs to come up with some solutions, but they are already looking at that. It is possible to solve that issue with the right planning.'' He said few people expected to get a carpark on Reid Street anyway since they were so rare, so the pedestrianisation plan would not be a major disappointment.

The owner of luggage and leather goods retailer Harbourmaster, Ms Sheilagh Robertson, is also supportive of the plan.

"The idea is a good one,'' she said. "It has great potential for making the area more attractive with an outdoor cafe type of environment, trees, seats and a general beautification of the street.

"Having greater emphasis on pedestrians and less on traffic is really catering for the shoppers rather than the drivers so there would be more of a festive feel in the air.

"There is a lot of potential there so the whole plan shouldn't be written off because of parking. Solutions can be found.'' She said in the 24 years that her shop has had a mall location she has noticed most serious shoppers were in their lunch-hour anyway, and creating the mall would simply attract more business people to browse in the area.

BUSINESS BUC