action to save the "forgotten village''.

A pub, a souvenir shop and an ice-cream parlour have all gone to the wall recently, adding to fears that tourists and other shoppers are being lured to Dockyard at the expense of Somerset.

And Government says no funds are available for a promised ferry dock at Mangrove Bay.

"The ferry dock is what we consider our lifeline -- that would give us access,'' Chamber of Commerce West End chairman Mr. Rudolph Dowling said this week.

Estimated to cost about $350,000, it was expected the dock could also be used by glass-bottomed boats and private craft.

With the recent loss of the Canadian Base at Daniel's Head, the US Naval Facility, and the US Naval Annex, "the West End is really, really reeling,'' Mr. Dowling said.

Another meeting was sought with Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan to discuss the dock issue, he said.

Business people warned three firms have closed in the last two months -- the Village Inn, Angie's Ice Cream Parlour, and the Old Market store. However, the Village Inn was located near the current Watford Bridge ferry stop that merchants complain is too remote.

The Old Market, which mainly sold souvenirs, was closed by Mr. David Chiappa at the end of November. The store had been in his business for many years.

Owner of the Somerset Country Squire pub, Mr. Donald Hassell, said: "Dockyard is definitely taking a pull off Somerset. With Government putting all the emphasis on Dockyard it's definitely affecting the village. "The main problem is to get some sort of attraction in Somerset. There is nothing for people to do.

"If Government doesn't find a way to assist, you're going to end up with a village of empty buildings.'' Chamber of Commerce head Mr. Louis Mowbray said: "One of the problems is that the market is leaving Somerset village for Dockyard, especially the tourist market, because ferries go there directly.'' Up to a dozen Somerset village businesses were prepared to pay for a dock together if Government pledged to gradually reimburse them. They had been meeting with Sir John "off and on for six months,'' he said.

On the dock issue, Sir John commented: "There was no money in the budget this year. It's a question of whether, as we look at our capital expenditure, there will be any money available in the coming year.

"At the moment we don't have enough money for such a project.''