The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

PORT PERRY "WEEKEND STAR" FRIDAY, JULY 14, 2000-7 - LETTERS : ? A Why the rush with Epsom road closure? To-the Editor: Open letter to: Mayor Doug Moffatt and council members of the Township of Scugog, Mr. Earl Cuddie, Clerk of the Township Regarding the five public notices recently appearing in Port Perry newspa- pers and first published in the June 20 issue of the Port Perry Star. In each issue, four of the five notices announce the offi- - cial closing of unused, unopened road- ways. Quite correctly, council is doing it housekeeping. Getting old business taken care of is progressive. But it's in the interest of the fifth adver- tisement that 1 write. 1 live in Lot 7 (named in the notice) and therefore asserted my democratic right to speak against such a closing. Refusal of that from the clerk's office leaves me with the free- dom of the press. I am the longest time resident of the Hamlet of Epsom and know historically, that Palace St. has been open, and used since 1852. From 1852 to 188l it served only two homes; 1881 to 1960 - three homes; 1960 to 1994 - five homes and since then it has served nine (and recent- ly 10) homes. This proposal is not pro- gressive. The advertisement claims that "in the interest of safety of the area residents" the township and region have agreed to "stop-up and close Palace St." Whose safety? Certainly not mine, or the other 29 community households on the heavily travelled roads also in fear of their safety. © Has a safety study been done? | have seen no reported statistics that prove there have been any more accidents at that intersection (since its population has almost trebled) than the intersection of Marsh Hill and Durham 8. What recent catastrophe has driven council to such a 'last resort,' irrevocable decision? What measures, to curb the escalating- number of 'nonexistent acci- dents,' have been tried, and failed? 1 have seen none. Why would a useable, viable emer- gency access route be closed, effectively jeopardizing the emergent safety and freedom of choice of Palace residents? The notice states that it is a blind inter- section. There are signs for that, I've seen them throughout the township. Many intersections in the township are far more dangerous. If safety is truly the primary concern, would not one of the alternative routes be taken by any judicious driver? There are alternatives. Would not all residents of Epsom be better served by installing a flashing light at the curve near Medd Road. (The SAC Committee at Epsom School has asked for that precau- tion for years). Warnings in that area would certainly be helpful at the Palace intersection as well as the one at Marsh Hill. Another alternative is: spend the same amount of money (to be spent on this wasteful project) on policing and enforc- ing the speed limits already signed moraine? throughout Epsom? That would be progress for the majority of taxpayers (including the local farmers using these roads, who would welcome such a precau- tion). In order to accommodate a cul de sac effect, will not some of those magnificent, old maples have to be sacrificed or die a slow lingering death because their roots have been so irreparably damaged? They have grown and are entirely on township property, so neighbours on Palace really have no legal say as to what council will ultimately do to those trees. This is iron- "ic, coming from the same council who has publicly denounced the Ministry of the Environment with ultimatums in the July 4 Star, the same council (along with Durham Region) who has vowed in Port Perry This Week, July 9, protection of the Oakridge Moraine. Are we not a part of that Has ~ the Ministry of Environment been notified of your plans and have they approved them? This also means that we can 'Kiss Goodbye' our community's annual Soapbox Derby, The Epsom Indy, as that open street offers us a convenient, safe route to return race cars to the top of the hill. It's a shame Arnold Kerry is not at home presently to protest, as the Indy is his idea, his 'pet' community project. - If council was instead, a court of law, | believe that this proposal would easily be argued 'thrown out of court' on techni- calities alone. The legally worded description of 'the open road allowance ... located between Lots 6 and 7" is actually Marsh Hill Rd., from the 4th to the 14th Concessions, regardless of the misnomer - Palace St. Notices in the issues dated June 20 and 27 state the closing of an open road allowance whereas the one issued July 5 states that the proposal will close an unopened road allowance. Not to men- tion the incorrect spelling of Epsom. Myself and two concerned citizens met with our council rep on Monday, July 10 with a list of 13 prepared questions. Not one was answered satisfactorily, except No. 6, when | was assured that, as a tax- payer, | had the right to be heard. Mention was made of 'an accident that occurred at that intersection 20 years ago, long before the population on that street trebled. That 'accident' did not involve any local residents, there were no fatali- ties, nor serious injuries: Council's con- cerns about that 'accident' would rightly have been examined ahd handled 20 years ago. Is this a 'rush job' 'a back-room deal' for some undisclosed reason or does thoughtlessness and disregard for the majority of voting taxpayers and the inep- titude of our council and their advisors reign supreme? " Darlene Christie, Epsom Signals needed at intersections To the Editor: The Tribute subdivision skirts Thickson Rd. on the west side, The Cachet/Queensgate subdivision skirts Thickson road on the east side. The traffic roars down Thickson Rd. exceeding the posted 80 km speed limit. Our children play in the subdivision nearby. There are no fences fo protect our young children from entering into the Thickson corridor. * We can reduce the risk of a serious accident by slowing traffic through this populated area. Traffic lights are needed at the Thickson/Carnwith and the ~ Blackfriar/Thickson intersections. Our youngsters are worth the effort and cost. Let's act before a tragedy occurs;together we can make a difference. Timothy S. Camp Citizens for a Better Brooklin Booming ecoriomy, complacent society To the Editor: Re: The front page story in the Weekend Star "Job road. open the door to a future with auto giants down the unemployed or on welfare. The Ontario government has taken 500,000 people Fair Attracts Just 16 People." (July 7) The auto parts supplier! needs some 50 employees to make parts for GM, Ford and Chrysler. The plant signed at 10-year lease on the building south of town, new employees start at $9 an hour. What an opportunity for young people seeking a job here. They don't need transportation. It could What a contrast to the days when | was a young factory worker making 10 cents an hour with no ben- efits. Working in a paint shop without a mask and poor ventilation. Better than flipping burgers in a dead end job. People who claim they can't get a job sound a hol- low note with this opportu- nity right here in town. Some would sooner be off welfare; yet Wonderland Amusement Park north of Metro had to import help from Russia and Poland. Farmers have to import help from the Caribbean to pick fruit and veggies. A booming economy; a com- placent society despite a still 6.6 unemployment fig- ure. Dean |. Kelly, Port Perry' Community's generosity is appreciated To the Editor: The Port Perry Hospital Auxiliary would like to thank the community for their outpouring of support on our recent Tag Days. We raised over $8,000 which is an all time record. Your generosity is very much appreci- ated and we look forward to purchasing much needed equipment for our hospi- tal. Anne Ferguson, Vice-president, Port Perry Hospital Auxiliary