An iconic bridge could one day link St. George?s to the rest of the Island, superseding the Causeway and helping raise the profile of the East End.

During the past year a bridge engineer has been tasked to find the best way to transport people across Castle Harbour in light of damage sustained by the Causeway during Hurricane Fabian in 2003.

No conclusion has yet been reached but, speaking to for the second part of an interview about the future direction for St. George?s, Mayor E. Michael Jones showed enthusiasm for the idea of an ?iconic? bridge.

It is one more option facing the town as it moves into 2006, along with other issues including the question of whether to enlarge the Town Cut to allow Panamax cruise ships passage to the harbour, improve the attractiveness of the town to visitors and the future of the former Club Med resort.

Mr. Jones intends that residents of St. George?s be given full disclosure of all the facts at the earliest opportunity to discuss the options and decide which route the town should take.

That is one reason why he has called a snap election for the mayorship on January 26 so that a team is in place that will remain unchanged during the important months of decision to come.

Speaking on the idea of an iconic bridge for the East End, he said: ?The Government, in my view, is looking at whether they rebuild the Causeway or do they build a bridge at Blue Hole Hill and go across? Or do they build from Coney Island to Stone Crusher Corner or build a bridge that goes across to Ferry Reach??

?They are saying ?do we build a second bridge and leave the Causeway or do we reduce the Causeway to a pedestrian area??. I would find that rather interesting ? to be able to go fishing off it, go for a walk with no vehicular traffic just pedal cycles.

?Do we build a Watford Bridge-style bridge? That?s a basic bridge that works. I have also recently spoken to someone who said ?Why don?t you build an iconic bridge, something that is really different and people will say ?We?ve got to go and take a picture of that bridge? just like the Somerset draw bridge.

?So you have a bridge that is effective but is also something that people talk about and want to come and see. And I said ?You know, that?s interesting, I had not thought about that?.?

The one thing he most definitely wants to avoid is a bridge linking to Ferry Reach and bringing a road through Ferry Reach National Park.

Mr. Jones does see some merit in the idea of a bridge from Coney Island to Stone Crusher Corner or from Blue Hole Hill to Kindley Field Road.

?I?m aware the Government is consulting. When they are ready to bring their ideas to the public?s attention I will be happy to look at them and then take the ideas to the people of St. George?s and see what they would prefer,? he said.

A new bridge, particularly an iconic one, would go someway to rejuvenating St. George?s as a town and destination for visitors ? both overseas and domestic.

As he revealed in last week, Mr. Jones is keen for the town to step up to a new level, become livelier and create an atmosphere that attracts visitors to enjoy the waterfront, and possibly with greater pedestrianised areas with on-street dining and a wider range of shops, if residents agree.

What happens to the former Club Med resort will play a key role. Discussions between developers and the Government are ongoing. It is hoped that a prestigious Four Seasons Hotel might be created, sparking a revival of culture and adding new ambience to the town.

Mr. Jones would like to see St. George?s become a trendier place for people to come and visit, have fun, shop and relax at a waterfront restaurant or bar watching the world go by.

A draft blueprint has been drawn up to show one possible option for the development of the town ? it includes increased pedestrianisation, a marina and central attraction at Ordnance Island and some waterfront developments.

Mr. Jones? stresses the ideas are simply that ? options. At this moment there is no plan ascribed for the town, and there won?t be until the people of St. George?s have been given their chance to air their views.

He said: ?The Corporation was looking at just the beginnings, there is no plan that encompasses the waterfront. Their are some proposals that we are preparing to put before the town if we can not get the Town Cut widened and get a Panamax ship. It is prudent for the Corporation to say what is its plan B??

Discussions about the development of Hamilton?s waterfront spurred St. George?s to take a serious look at its waterfront and the surrounding streets.

Mr. Jones said he is being kept informed to a certain degree about the ongoing Club Med site discussions.

?I?m of the opinion the Government is continuing discussions and at an appropriate time will make a decision one way or another. We just hope it will be a positive one. We truly believe that when the Four Seasons comes to St George?s it is going to bring a new breath of vibrancy,? he said.

?It is my belief that if we can manage the participation of Four Seasons along with pedestrianised areas in the town and some waterfront development, then St. George?s can become a little trendy, a little fun, a place where the folks from Hamilton can say ?Well, let?s go down and spend a few hours in St George?s tonight. Let?s not meet in Hamilton, let?s go down and sit on the waterfront in St. George?s to have a few beers or a glass of wine or dinner let?s go down in the new pedestranised waterfront or walkways and people watch and have a couple of pastries, let?s go down and do a little shopping?.

?I believe we have an opportunity to grow St. George?s as an UNESCO World Heritage Site and as a viable options to be a place to go and be seen.

?We can pedestrianise our town more and offer the retail merchant a better opportunity to expand on the merchandise range, additional stores and restaurants and boutique places in the town.?

Mr. Jones hopes that, whether he is mayor or not, a public meeting on the future of St. George?s will be held early in 2006, possibly this March, when up-to-date information about the Panamax cruise ships and Town Cut, and the Club Med site development proposals are available, in order to consult with the community about what they would like to see for the town.