Summerville residents not happy with trail construction

“The majority of landowners had no idea the trail was going to be developed and were not personally notified,” said a Summerville property owner. “The trail goes right through properties, it’s in close proximity to our houses, we have safety concerns, we have concerns of noise.”

The property owner added, the old railway trail crosses a lot of their driveways.

“There’s been about a dozen complaints in the Summerville area,” said Queens Rails and Trails Association president, Dwight Crouse.

He noted public meetings did occur but nobody showed up.

The Queens Rails and Trails Association formed in 2001.

Last year the association received funding to fix up the old railway trails to use as a recreational trail.

It is designed for ATVs, equestrian riders, hikers, cross country skiers, anything that will not destroy the trail basically.

Phase one, which costs roughly $230,000, is about 75 per cent complete.

“We have completed it all except signage on the Port Mouton end, from Broad River Bridge up to the Shelburne County line,” said Crouse. “We have about 80 per cent complete from the Lunenburg County line to Brooklyn, all except the bridges.”

The second and final phase should be complete by fall 2010 and will cost about another $230,000.

For now, construction crews have stopped working on the Summerville section of trail.

Crouse said once a Department of Natural Resources staff member returns to work, a public meeting will take place in the Summerville area in September to address concerns.

“We do want to hear the concerns,” he added, “and see if we can come to some kind of happy medium here.”

“We want people to enjoy their ATVs,” said the property owner, “but not right through our back door, next to our decks and across our driveways.”

Anyone with suggestions or complaints can call Dwight Crouse at 677-2934.