East End residents have been invited to share their thoughts about proposed changes to a public space.

The Corporation of St George will hold a public forum on Thursday for concerned residents to discuss a proposed plan to turn three vacant units on Water Street into residential areas.

The three units at 14 Water Street would be fitted with porches, garbage storage, and new walls and gates.

Candy-Lee Foggo, the town manager of the Corporation of St George, said that the forum was crucial to helping the corporation collect necessary feedback for the Department of Planning.

She explained: “As part of the Department of Planning’s process, they do a public consultation. As part of that process, because the actual proposed location is within the Town of St George, two committees will come into play.”

The Department of Planning is required by law to make a proposed development and its plans public so that members of the public can comment and offer feedback on them.

Ms Foggo said that the St George’s Preservation Authority and the Corporation were both expected to collect public feedback.

But she added that the corporation decided to take things a step further and get a “collective central voice” with a forum “to try and capture all the comments that people are saying, whether they’re in support of it or they’re not in support of it”.

Ms Foggo said that the Bermuda Environment and Sustainability Taskforce, the Bermuda National Trust and several proprietors had expressed concerns.

But she added that, for the corporation, “we have until February 23, because that would allow us to do our due diligence from our side in order to provide a comprehensive response”.

Ms Foggo said: “The idea is not for us to be introducing the plan – people should already have seen the plan and just come with whatever their comments are, whether it’s for or against.

“I know there have been individuals who have put in feedback to the Department of Planning, but I’m not particularly sure whether individuals themselves would actually follow that process.

“So this is an attempt for the corporation to garner that feedback and get it in a format that it becomes formalised for the Department of Planning as part of the consultation process that they require.”

Objections filed against the proposal are from residents and business owners alike.

One objection filed by business owner Jill Raine said that the plan was a “huge mistake”.

She said that the privatisation of the lots could have a knock-on effect that would lead to other spaces being turned into residences.

Ms Raine said: “This would effectively destroy any previous plans for the town and make this precious area private to just a few.

“This proposal effectively cuts off our heritage and freedom to stroll among the small St George’s shops and restaurants.

“It will replace this historic right to an area of private-gated living quarters.”

The forum will take place on February 15 at Penno’s Wharf in St George’s. Independent viewing of the proposed plans will start at 6pm while the public forum will start at 6.30pm.

• UPDATE: this article has been updated to clarify the location of the proposed units