Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown last night revealed that he would soon be tabling his recommendations for changes to the bus terminal in Hamilton - but admitted that it could be more than two years before any work was done.

He said proposals drawn up by his Ministry, in conjunction with the Public Transportation Board and the Corporation of Hamilton, to improve the bus station had certainly not been forgotten.

But he said he could not guarantee that it would be in next year's budget, or even the budget after that.

Dr. Brown said: "I'm going to table my National Transportation Management Plan very soon and in there is a recommendation with respect to the bus terminal.

"I don't know if I can get it in the next budget because of the scarcity of funds.

"We could be talking two years or even more.

"But the idea has not gone away."

The Royal Gazette has reported how attempts to find a new location for the bus terminal in Church Street had failed due to lack of available space.

Corporation of Hamilton secretary Roger Sherratt said, instead, it had been decided to upgrade the present site, making it more vehicle and pedestrian-friendly.

Among the proposals are plans to improve the bus shelters, widen the central aisle and slightly narrow one of the sidewalks near to the shops.

The aims of the improvements are to ultimately make it safer for both drivers and passengers, but also to enable more buses to use the terminal and to give them more room to manoeuvre.

But Mr. Sherratt said, although the terminal was in the city limits, funding would have to come from Government, so it would be its responsibility to decide when it all took place.

But community activist Charles Spanswick, who has petitioned for improvements to the bus station, said he was hugely disappointed with the response by Dr. Brown.

He said: "I'm not at all happy that we may have to wait this long.

"I thought something would have taken place by now.

"I handed a big petition into Government 18 months ago, and Dr. Brown agreed that its present location, and the facility, was unacceptable.

"I know the situation with Government when it comes to funds, but this is a very important issue.

"It's too far down the list of priorities.

"This bus terminal, as it is, is not good for our tourist industry and there are too many accidents and near-misses there.

"It's obviously time for me to start another petition - that is what I will do."

Mr. Spanswick said he was also concerned about safety of pedestrians and bus passengers, and the large number of school children who hung around the terminal waiting for buses home after school.

He added: "Where in the world would you have a bus terminal where people can easily walk out in front of a bus?

"It's so dangerous.

"I seriously believe that unless something is done soon, somebody could be knocked over and injured."

But when Dr. Brown spoke about the proposals last year, he freely said that he was looking at long-term plans and nothing would be "imminent".

And Mr. Sherratt said last night that although the issue of the bus terminal had not been forgotten, he totally understood the financial constraints of the Government.

He said: "What we have done so far is look at what some of the options are.

"But now it's really a matter of whether Government, in the present economic situation, can fund it and in which year's budget.

"It's something that Government has to decide - they have priorities.

"We would certainly like to see it done, but we can totally understand their situation.

"We at the Corporation have the same decisions to make.

"I know the new Police station in the city is a huge project and will be very good for the city, and I think that is at the top of their list."