A Boaz Island business owner is circulating a petition demanding the bus service past Watford Bridge be restored as soon as possible.

Boaz Island Shell Service Station co-owner Derek Simons said he started the petition after Works and Engineering Minister Alex Scott said people in Dockyard were no longer voicing their concern about the situation - seven weeks after it began.

"I know for a fact that that is not true," Mr. Simons said. "Many people who I've spoken to have said that they have tried to express their concerns but have not been able to reach anyone. So I started the petition to let Government know that people are still upset about this."

On Monday, Mr. Scott said regular bus service could return to Dockyard by the middle of December if the bus operators and the Bermuda Industrial Union (BIU) accept the offer of Works and Engineering to asphalt Freeport Drive.

Mr. Simons, who stressed that he was expressing his opinion and not that of his business partner, said he believed the Minister had done all he could to rectify the situation.

"The drivers are being totally unreasonable and don't seem to be willing to cater to the general public of the West End," he said, "but what I don't understand is how can around 160 drivers dictate to over 1,000 voters up here? It's like they're holding us at ransom."

Mr. Simons pointed out that although the situation had been going on for well over a month, it was only recently that a sign was erected to let tourists know that the free minibus service was available at Watford Bridge.

He added that even with the notice in place, the situation was still confusing to visitors.

"Just yesterday four tourists were standing in the bus shelter across the street from Loyalty Inn and two drivers passed by them, probably assuming that it would be a waste of time picking them up if they were going to Dockyard.

"They looked like they didn't know what was going on, but a local picked them up and took them into Dockyard. This is really an inconvenience," Mr. Simons said.

It is not just tourist business that is being lost, he added. Many of his customers are not coming to get their vehicles serviced because they would usually catch the bus back to their homes.

And his view was echoed by entrepreneurs in the Clock towerMall. "It has been much slower than usual," said a Beethoven's Restaurant and Bar employee. "Tourists are still coming in on bikes, but less than normal."

Davison's employee Laverne Showers said: "It has definitely affected our business, although we have had a great deal of people arriving by ferry."

While she expressed concern on how the problem has led to a reduction in visitors, Frances Bean of A.S. Cooper's noted that local commuters were also suffering.

"People who don't have a car have to wait for the minibus too, unless they can catch a ride with someone going to Dockyard."

Phyllis Correia of Michael Swan Gallery said waiting for the minibuses was not a pleasant experience if the weather is bad.

"It's more of an inconvenience," she said. "If it's raining, you're asking everyone to stand in the bad weather. It's an injustice just to get over a bridge."

But Ms Correia said she hoped an end to the impasse was near.

"I work up here and love it. These issues need to be resolved because it's little things like this that bother me."

Mr. Simons said he anticipated presenting the petition at the House of Assembly next Friday.