Former Premier Sir John Swan yesterday hit out at two contenders in the forthcoming Hamilton mayoral race, as the debate rages on about how the city?s waterfront should be revamped.

Sir John has already criticised current Mayor Lawson Mapp for endorsing the $639 million vision, which the former leader of the country says will ?destroy? a unique area and move the use of the waterfront ?from public to private?.

And yesterday he criticised deputy mayor Sonia Grant, who backs the first phase of development of Hamilton Harbour but does not support the relocation of the docks, which Sir John said have to be moved to ease congestion.

He said the positions taken by the two contenders ?worried him immensely?. Miss Grant responded by saying she was against moving the cargo docks for financial reasons.

?The Corporation is in no position to give away 40 percent of its revenue and not know how to replace it,? she said.

Sir John, who first proposed waterfront development a number of years ago, said at this stage in the campaign he was leaning towards backing Jay Bluck ? even though he said the candidate had yet to spell out his position on the revamp ? because he is a businessman.

Mayor Mapp has said the latest plans were not set in stone and were aimed at kick-starting debate.