Companies will soon be invited to bid on new designs for the Causeway, Works and Engineering Minister Ashfield DeVent revealed on Friday.

At a meeting held at Clearwater Middle School on July 8, East End residents met with Bermuda Homes for People, the non-profit organisation partnering with Government to develop 200 new homes at Southside, 100 of which are expected to be low-cost housing.

Speaking in the House of Assembly on Friday morning, Mr. DeVent said that all concerns raised by residents were recorded, and “the developer and Government will be looking at these in greater detail”.

“Members of the community did express a certain amount of non-enthusiasm with the magnitude of the development,” he admitted.

Residents asked if the scale of the development could be reduced, citing concerns about traffic congestion, overcrowded schools and the Causeway.

The Causeway was heavily damaged by Hurricane Fabian last September, cutting the East End off from the rest of the Island for several days.

“From the Ministry of Works and Engineering and Housing perspective, we are already looking at the condition of the Causeway and soon a request for proposals for the design options will be put out to tender,” Mr. DeVent said in the House.

“It is appreciated that the Causeway is the only route from the mainland to the East End and it has to be maintained in good order.”

Concerns were also raised about local businessmen who will have to relocate in the face of the development, Mr. DeVent said.

“Bermuda Homes for People have made some provision for assisting in the relocation of these tenants. The Bermuda Land Development Company (BLDC) and the Bermuda Home for People will meet to discuss the arrangements with the existing short-term tenants and put forward proposals for each scenario.”

One resident asked at the meeting if the deep-water harbour at Southside would be lost in the development. “I can confirm that the dock … is not a part of the development,” Mr. DeVent said.

Regarding concerns that only large contractors will have a bite of the development pie, Mr. DeVent said: “Although it is not a Government contract, Bermuda Home for People indicate that it was their hope that contractors large and small would have an opportunity to gain from this project.”

Area MP Suzann Roberts-Holshouser raised concerns at the meeting about the overall plan for housing in the East End, Mr. DeVent said.

“The 200 units by the Bermuda Homes for People is only the first step. The BLDC is currently revising its housing programme and this will be released to the public when completed.

“I have always stated that it is my goal that all Bermudians should be housed. While it is not possible at present to house all persons, we are headed in the correct direction. “The application for the 200 units is before the Planning Department and interested parties can view the plan for the development and comment accordingly.”

Adding that the proposed scheme can be used elsewhere on the Island, Mr. DeVent said if Government was not to be part of the solution, it would be part of the problem. “Now is an opportune time for all Bermudians to be a part of the solution.”