A details of various proposals for Reid Street, including the pedestrianisation of the lower end, could be made public within the next two months, according to the Corporation of Hamilton.

Corporation of Hamilton Secretary Roger Sherratt, said various proposals were being put together by city chiefs.

These would then be made available to a special committee of Reid Street shop owners and keepers to discuss.

At this time the public would also be given the chance to look at the proposals which are all aimed at making the street more attractive.

He said: "We are still actively looking at schemes for improving Reid Street. We do not intend to fully pedestrianise it, as there is a need for delivery and service vehicles to gain access. But we are certainly looking at improving the pedestrian environment."

He said proposals include widening the side walk, traffic restrictions and "beautifying" the area to make it more attractive.

The issue of pedestrianising Reid Street has been controversial during the last two years.

On one side of the fence are the pro-pedestrianisation shops who say that this is the way forward and will help the beleaguered retail sector.

The other vehemently oppose the scheme, saying there is already too little parking in the area and it will badly affect their business.

Those opposed to the scheme include A.S. Cooper's, The English Sports Shop, Smith's, Trimingham's, the Stationery Store, St. Michael's and Aston & Gunn, who all voiced their concern about the scheme and a lack of parking in a letter to the editor in The Royal Gazette in March this year.

Last week Pierre Dutoya, general manager of the Hornburg Calypso chain which owns Calypso, Voila and Bennetton, called for a proactive campaign to pedestrianise the road to revitalise the lagging retail sector.

A survey in March this year reported that 60 percent of merchants surveyed by the Chamber of Commerce were in favour of pedestrianising Reid Street.

The City of Hamilton Plan recommends making Reid Street between Burnaby and Queen Street a "pedestrian priority street".

Mr. Sherratt said yesterday: "We are working with a committee made up of merchants from the area and we are discussing a variety of options. We are having some designs done up to see what can be done.

"These should be ready within a couple of months, and we will have something more definite to work with in the committee.

"It will give us a better idea of what it will look like, and we will let the general public know and see where we are."

He said they were being very careful to both improve the pedestrian concourse and not adversely affect any businesses who are concerned about parking.

He added the corporation had added more short-term parking in the area with about 60 spaces in the City Hall car park turned over to short stays of two hours maximum per car per day. And more parking on Front Street had also been converted into temporary parking to ease the problem.

Mr. Sherratt said: "Parking is one of the city's biggest issues, that and congestion. The Corporation is very keen to improve lower Reid Street, and do it in a sensitive way."