military move out.

A group of British business people wants to create a working studio there and open it to tourists.

Many of the Island's visitors would head for the new attraction, they believe.

And it could provide a base for the "Bermuda Grace'' team if their TV cop series gets the go-ahead.

The studio plan has been highlighted by a Government-appointed team considering the future of the base sites.

The team, headed by lawyer and former UBP Senate leader the Hon. Charles Collis, hopes to produce a report for Government within a month.

It has been collecting ideas from the public and from businesses about what to do with the Island's bases if and when they are abandoned.

Suggestions are being considered only if they involve the earning of foreign cash and don't need Government spending.

The former Canadian base at Daniel's Head is expected to be vacant by the end of the year, but no official word has yet been received on the Naval Annex.

Mr. Collis said: "We've had a number of interesting proposals involving Daniel's Head, on the basis that it's one of the most lovely sites in Bermuda for a cottage colony cum small convention facility.'' Several groups, local and foreign, had shown interest in developing the site.

The committee would tell Government it was politically preferable not to sell Daniel's Head, but to lease it instead.

But there was a big problem with the land, said Mr. Collis. "One of the great difficulties of doing anything with the Daniel's Head site is the terrible stench that arises from the use of the adjoining land as an abbatoir and so-called farm.'' General proposals for the Annex site would also be included in the team's report, said Mr. Collis.

"We're trying to provide additional facilities for the tourist industry and trying to develop some new commercial activity.

"In this connection one of the major ideas put forward by a British group is to build and develop a film studio.

"That would have substantial employment and career opportunities for Bermudians in addition to being a substantial earner of foreign exchange and create substantial tourism potential as a new and exciting attraction.'' The studio could employ more than 100 locals and stimulate more jobs elsewhere, Mr. Collis said.

"It would be a facility that people around the world could hire, using small and large studios and underwater tanks.'' Mr. Collis would not reveal who was behind the plan. But he said no famous name was involved.

"It's one option, and we actually have someone who is very keen. They're people who have some knowledge and experience of that area.

"It will all be subject to feasibility studies. No-one is going to commence this until the whole matter is agreed in principle.'' Investment for the studio plan would probably come from outside the Island, he said, although this had not not been finalised.

The studio plan had originally been for Daniel's Head, but this had not proved suitable because it involved a building 50 feet high and covering 40,000 square feet.

Mr. Collis said the idea of a golf course at the Annex site -- most recently promoted by Mr. Mansfield (Jimmy) Brock of the Committee on Competitiveness -- was still an option.

It could share the site with a studio, he said.

"What we need is a golf course of international standard which is more available for tourist use.'' The Annex site was mainly concrete and asphalt, he said. But it was a good site for a tourist attraction as it would be only 15 minutes from Hamilton by ferry.

The British government's decision to allow Bermuda to talk directly with the US about the Annex was a great help. The process would now be speeded up "a hundred times''.

Mr. Collis added: "It's fair to say that the committee at this stage has not picked on any particular proposal.

"It's just focusing its attention on the type of activity where interest has been expressed and which would be of enormous benefit to Bermuda.'' The team's report would ask for decisions on the Annex site and Daniel's Head but not the main US Naval Air Station.

"It's my hope the US will stay there,'' he said.

Miss Christabel Albery, producer of the "Bermuda Grace'' pilot show filmed earlier this year, said she had been consulted by Government on the film studio plan.

She said the idea was good as long as it was not too ambitious, and did not risk local money on a possible "white elephant'' that could not pay its way.

She said a "Bermuda Grace'' series would be interested in using the facilities if they were affordable.