Tourism leaders planning to turn Flatts into a 21st Century visitor centre are to lobby Government to make the village a Special Development Zone.

The Visitor Industry Partnership held a public meeting at the Aquarium on Tuesday night to discuss a range of proposals to improve road safety, the environment and tourism in the area.

Around 70 residents completed a survey on the VIP's ideas to modernise Flatts.

And they supported the Partnership's plan to make the village's roads safer and encourage more water-based tourism, including diving and snorkelling.

Aquarium curator Richard Winchell, who chaired the meeting, noted scores of ideas from residents on how to lure visitors to Flatts.

VIP chairman Toppy Cowen closed the meeting with a vow to lobby the House of Assembly to give the village special funding.

He said: "Zillions of ideas to make Flatts a better place have been put forward and we will formulate those into a priority list.

"We will also look at the questionnaire surveys to get more feedback. There are some big issues and big ideas in our proposals.

"People here have supported a plan for a one-stop tourist centre in the village and we now have to look at ways of making these dreams a reality.

"We will immediately lobby Government to make Flatts a Special Development Zone because that will help make it a very special place.

"The residents here want sidewalks, they want safer roads and they want to promote visitors on boats and pleasure cruises in Harrington Sound.

"These are important issues for the whole of the Island and if we can persuade Government of that, I believe they will back us with funding.'' There was unanimous support at the meeting for a range of measures to reduce traffic speeds on the village's roads.

Some residents called for reduced speed limits and others wanted trucks banned or traffic-calming measures like cobblestoned roads.

And Mr. Cowen said he had already arranged meetings with the planning department and the Railway Committee to discuss ideas.

Part of the improvement plan for Flatts includes a series of "meandering paths'' off the railway trail and around the village, towards Shelly Bay.

Mr. Cowen said he would also encourage Flatts businesses to work together to encourage tourism.

"Traffic is a problem and we need to address that,'' he said. "That is why many people support proposals to bring more people here by boat, possibly from other parts of the island like Hamilton, Dockyard and St. George's.

"We have also heard people talk about the need for a co-operative tourism plan. All of us can actually help improve the area by offering something to tourists.

"We will try to get the hotels on board, the Aquarium and the restaurants and small businesses in the area.

"Basically, we're trying to do as much as we can to improve this area for the next century.'' The VIP's initial plan to revitalise Flatts was launched last month, with proposals to start boat trips, diving and snorkelling excursions in Harrington Sound.