Racing toward oblivion

Dear Editor:

Matters of personal responsibility with regard to the wider community are complicated and often drive communities apart. One such struggle is happening in Wilmot.

A resident and business owner has an idea to build an automobile racetrack in the hills of Wilmot.

Concerns about substantially increased traffic through quiet, rural neighborhoods and farmland, significant and disturbing noise pollution impacting hundreds of people, decreasing property values as a result of this development and the environmental hazards of automobile fluids seeping into nearby rivers and streams have brought hundreds of people together in their shared objection.

Community volunteers combed the neighborhoods of Wilmot asking people to indicate their support or lack thereof for the project. Just under 300 people participated in that survey and 86 per cent voiced their objection. This information, along with a request for amendment to the noise by-law were brought to (Annapolis County) council for their timely consideration.

Surely, there’s room for everyone in a community. Surely there’s a place for this gentleman to create a business that will support himself and his family. Surely there are other options for him. Perhaps a racetrack miles and miles away from those seeking a quiet, rural lifestyle. Perhaps a racetrack in an industrial area already transformed from its once natural state. Perhaps a less environmentally insulting venture…

We all deserve to live peacefully, relatively undisturbed by inappropriate development. I believe the community has spoken. Council must act to ensure the adequate protection of all.

Jemma Lambert

Wilmot, Nova Scotia