Retailers have called for a moratorium on the draft Hamilton plan which they say could damage their struggling business by axing vital parking near shops.

They say the plan, which will guide Planning policy for the next ten years, was done to make a "pretty city" without taking into account economic effects on major employers, made worse by the downturn sparked by the September 11 attacks.

Speaking for major retailers, employing around 800 people, former Bank of Bermuda chairman Eldon Trimingham told a tribunal yesterday that professionals should be called in to conduct a survey into parking needs.

He characterised their typical shopper as a female motorist.

He said: "The draft's underlying parking assumptions fail to recognise the dependence and reliance of the US/Bermudian consumer on cars."

Retailers said the plan's objectives of restricting parking to encourage alternative modes of transport was naive and likely to spell the death knell for the city as it did in the US and Canada where out-of-town malls thrived because they had unlimited free parking.

H.A.&E. Smith Ltd. president Roger Davidson spelled out the economic woes. He said: "In the last six weeks five to six retailers have closed. My guess is it's only the start of a major run."

Mr. Trimingham said: "We are convinced, as experience has shown elsewhere, that no significant number of car-addicted residents will ever revert to public transport."

He said planners placed unreasonable restrictions on City developments which encouraged businesses to move outside.

Retailers want to rebuild higher and let out the new floors as office space to offset their struggling core business.

They are calling for an end to the height limits which decree buildings in certain locations must not rise higher than the eaves of the Cathedral.

Buildings are termite-ridden and have decrepit wiring, plumbing and air conditioning but owners are unwilling to invest in repairs because of predicted poor returns, said Mr. Trimingham.

Assistant Director of Forward Planning Peter Adwick said the plan had not been done with the economic effects in mind but was about urban design.

He said pedestrianisation of Reid Street, which the retailers complained about, was not in the plan although the Department supported pedestrian improvements.

He said the plan had to take all shades of opinion into account and there had been concern about traffic congestion and increasing heights of buildings in the city although he said there was some scope for buildings to be added to.

He said: "Withdrawing the plan is an over-reaction to events, particularly if we take this decision because of events in the US."

The Tribunal, chaired by Dr. Kent Simmons, is likely to make its recommendations to Environment Minister Dennis Lister by the end of the year.

Speaking for the Corporation of Hamilton, Secretary Roger Sherratt said he was aware parking was a major issue and had brought in policies to free up space for shoppers.

He said he would take the idea of outside professionals doing a study of parking back to the Corporation to look at again, although they have rejected it before.

He said Bull's Head car park, pending planning permission, would have a new storey by next year.

Mr. Trimingham suggested the Par-la-Ville car park could be used for a multi-storey car park.