Letters

DEAR EDITOR;

Many thanks to Matthew Mccully for his July 14th front page article, Royea Street residents feel ditched by Town.

In my opinion, when a developer "devours" your neighbourhood, it is not "an opportunity" or a "plus" as Robert Daniel, Public Works director, said. When your water and sewer pipes are less than 18 years old and have a lifespan of at least 40 years, how does the installation of new pipes for a developer become a plus? Especially when it compromises the beauty of the neighbourhood and our rights to a peaceful, safe and enjoyable life? I have called Mayor Richard Burcombe a few times, begging him to come over to see the damage and show me how this is an "opportunity" or a "plus." He said he is not an engineer and my pipes would need to be replaced in another twenty or more years anyway. I replied that I may not even live that long. I am 67 now. The mayor has yet to show up. As for the mystery developer, we have never met him but his surveyors were roaming our properties last summer without our permission. I reported the intruders to the Town and was told it had nothing to do with them, and they didn't know the name of the developer. At a council meeting, attended by myself and my neighbour, we were told by Mayor Burcombe that we should have called the police.

Recently a town surveyor marked the edges of our street with stakes. I made inquiries (and checked my own location certificate) and was told the sticks show how far the town can rightfully dig without taking our land. I was assured they probably would not extend the excavation that far. As it turned out, we watched anxiously as the backhoe cut beyond those markers into our driveways, lawns and even my prize 100 foot long and 10 foot high cedar hedge. My cedar roots have been exposed and only time will tell if the hedge survives the attack. So far, two of my neighbours have had large branches chopped off their front lawn shade trees and this is only the first week of a long process.

As for the Town workers, the skilled backhoe driver has made every effort to avoid electrical wires and huge tree branches that are in the way every time he turns his enormous machine around. The sympathetic on-site engineer has apologized constantly saying, "Sorry but this is the only way we can install these pipes in the limited space," and then, "Sorry but we had to put a manhole in front of your driveway, Sandra." With our street excavation less than half done, it would appear they are trying to accomplish an impossible task - installing such large utility pipes on such a narrow roadway. I have every confidence the workers are doing their best under the circumstances. The rain has not helped.

To the best of my knowledge, the last thing I needed was new water and sewer pipes and (for many reasons) I don't think it is my best interest to transfer my utility hookup to a pipeline connected to a big development. We have been told not to worry about our cul de sac becoming a through road. Meanwhile they are cutting the new roadway, leading beyond the end of Royea to the development, now. To be on the safe side, since even the workers cannot say what the summer holds for us, I have cancelled visitors (especially those with kids). I only go home when necessary and I stay inside with the windows closed.

Could someone please tell me again why the Town did not choose to service the developer through the adjacent Fire Department land?

SANDRA REED KNOWLTON, QUE.