Efforts to reduce problems of traffic accidents and congestion at the Collector's Hill junction have been delayed while the Ministry of Works and Engineering awaits consultation with the public, a Smith's Parish council meeting heard last night.

Peter Havlicek, a consultant with the Ministry of Works and Engineering told the Smith's Parish community that a ministerial change, along with Hurricane Fabian had set back the plans but that pedestrian guard rails had arrived and would be installed soon. The guardrails will help alleviate the "straddling" of cars parked on the road and sidewalk.

"Members of the public will be consulted about the various options that we have thought of for the Collector's Hill area because the feedback helps to get the optimum solution that everyone will be happy with," Mr. Havlicek said.

Brochures will be distributed to members of the public in January with the various schemes and Mr. Havlicek said a voting slip would accompany the brochure for the public's feedback. The public will be able to decide on a preferred scheme or can make other suggestions.

He explained the four schemes that the Ministry had come up with included making Collector's Hill a 90 degree angle with the South Shore Road, which would move the entry to the road further east.

Another option was to eliminate the entrances into the businesses that run along that strip of road and have an access road dedicated to the stores and restaurants that would be constructed behind the buildings.

At the meeting, residents also queried the construction of traffic lights but Mr. Havlicek explained that the lights could contribute to delaying traffic on South Shore Road. he said that minor roads such as A.P. Owen Road, which is directly across from Collector's Hill, would need a traffic light although there might not be as much traffic. Other residents also mentioned that traffic lights could cause more problems.

But Mr. Havlicek added that it was still an option and that if it is a scheme that people want after the brochures were distributed they would still consider implementing traffic lights.