Court Street traders claim their efforts to make the area more attractive to tourists is being wrecked by official `neglect'.

Vendors believe their image is tarnished by gangs hanging out on the street, crime and by a lack of visible policing.

But the Corporation of Hamilton hit back, saying an offer to install CCTV on the street was initially rejected by the traders, and that the area recieves no less policing than any other part of Hamilton.

The owner of the Spinning Wheel bar Charles (LB) Burgess was incredulous that tourists might be told to stay away from the `back of town' because it wasn't safe for them

In a letter written to The Royal Gazette last week, Mr. Burgess said: "Can you believe in this day and age that upon their arrival tourists are told `It is not safe for them to go the back of town or not to venture too far to sthe northern end of Court Street unless they're looking for trouble'?"

Mr. Burgess expressed his discontent with the efforts of both the Corporation of Hamilton and the Police, speculating that perhaps it was because the area was not as wealthy as other parts of the City. "Perhaps it that we obviously lack the prestige of the Gibbons, Coopers, Triminghams, Smiths et al, why we are shunned," he said.

He said he and other Court Street entrepreneurs have made efforts to improve the area's image, which included "promoting laudable businesses and attracting new clients.and even working with the gangs and other elements to rid Court Street of the negative image".

The area is even now known as the Uptown Market Centre, he said.

And at least two other Court Street merchants, who wished to remain anonymous, agreed wholeheartedly.

"Guys hang out all day, all night," one woman said. "Drinking, smoking weed, selling drugs, but the Police don't do usually do anything about it." While the woman admitted that Police raided the area at least four consecutive days a couple of weeks ago, she criticized their actions.

"They only harassed the drug runners, but ignored the well-known suppliers, although they know who's doing what."

Another business owner said she felt Another business owner said she felt the Police were not doing enough. She said while she often had tourists visit her establishment, business was slumping and she was considering changing her shop's focus, hoping to attract a larger clientele.

She admitted that she knows the people hanging out in the street are a large part of her troubles.

"And the Police definitely know what's going on. Them driving by is not the answer. They need to be stationed out here 24 hours a day.

"I know they can't eliminate the situation but it would at least minimise it."

Efforts to contact Mr. Burgess personally were unsuccessful, but in his letter, he said nothing would quell his determination to clean-up the area.

"I want it to be known that although I am fed with the discernment I have had to endure, I am not giving up. I have no intention of throwing in the towel now."

"In my view the Police and the Corporation are equally responsible for the plague of open criminal acts, as they have totally neglected this area.

"It would appear as though they (Police in particular) would prefer to leave the scourge in one location so they would know where to find people," he said.

While he claimed that the majority of those who hung out in the area were not residents, he said they frequented the street because "in the back-of-town they get away with crimes that they would not dare attempt on any other City street".

"And this is what we are subjected to as the true tenants and business owners of the area, who are hardworking taxpayers and in no way contributing to the stigma," he said in his letter.

Mr. Burgess also said the Police often turned a blind eye to the illegal activities taking place on Court Street.

Corporation of Hamilton secretary Roger Sherratt ,emphathised with the merchants' plight. He told The Royal Gazette that the Corporation was especially concerned with the lack of Police patrols in the City and said it had complained about this for a number of years.

"There's a perception that Police are walking along Reid, Queen, Front and Church streets, but that is totally wrong. There are no more on Court Street than there are in any other part of the City," he said.

"There is a lack of officers available for patrol."

Mr. Sherratt explained that while there are many officers who are stationed in Hamilton, they are assigned to many attachments such as Government House and the courts.

He also said when the Hamilton Plan 2001 was being prepared, the Corporation met with residents and merchants in the North Hamilton area. The biggest issue was one of safety and security, he said.

"Five years ago, when the Corporation was looking at installing CCTV in the area, we consulted specifically with the North Hamilton Business Association and the United Bar Owners Association. Both were adamant that they did not want CCTV on Court Street," he said.

Mr. Sherratt said the Corporation tried to persuade them otherwise, but they remained firm in their decision, leaving the Corporation no choice but to erect cameras in other areas of the City, but not Court Street.

But later, when it was realised that there would be no negative effects from the cameras, there was a change in attitude, said Mr. Sherratt, but it was too late.

According to him, the company which supplied the fibre-optics necessary to expand the CCTV operation went out of business, hence Court Street not having a camera to this day.

"We're being blamed for not putting cameras on Court Street when in fact we went out of our way to persuade them to do so," Mr. Sherratt said.

Mr. Sherratt assured them that the Corporation was doing all that it could.

"There are dynamic businesses on Court Street and we have to make sure their reputations are enhanced."

Police were unavailable to comment on the claims.