preserve one of Bermuda's landmarks.

This time it is the Old House in Flatts Village, which had part of its roof removed after the whole structure was threatened with collapse. It is clear that the building is one of the most attractive, if not the most attractive, building in Flatts and that it should be preserved. It seems that the basic building is structurally sound even though the roof was not.

While the building is not a landmark on the scale of St. Peter's Church, it is a well-known sight on the way through Flatts and a building of significant architectural value which helps to give the village much of its character.

It is not possible at this stage to determine what has exactly caused the weakening of the structure, but neglect over a number of years, the heavy traffic which barrels through the village along the North Shore Road and finally, the severe weather which came as Hurricane Lili passed by the Island must all have contributed.

While much, although not enough, attention is given to the architectural heritage of St. George's and Hamilton, it is important that the character of villages like Somerset and Flatts is preserved. As community centres for their outlying neighbourhoods, their neglect will result in the rest of the Island becoming nothing more than a colourless suburb for Hamilton.

The National Trust is right now spending a huge amount of money on its buildings in St. George's and the town is preparing itself to become a world site. That is what ought to be happening in Bermuda. There are also examples throughout Bermuda of buildings which have been restored when all seemed hopeless. It may be less expensive to demolish the Old House and start again but the cost to the community if this building is destroyed will be much higher.

Flatts Village is considered by many locals and visitors to be one of the most attractive areas in Bermuda. We have to be careful to keep it that way. Some years ago this newspaper suggested that Flatts should become a walking village with through traffic diverted up Store Hill and then down Flatts Hill just as it was when the street was rendered dangerous from the roof of the old house.

The idea was a board walk along the water edge of the village, around the Inlet and to the Aquarium, freeing the village to become a shopping area.

We believe that will happen one day. In the meantime it is necessary to protect the environment which would make Flatts desirable as a walking village. That means we should protect the architecture and we should protect the Inlet.