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Pushing Another Scheme

Guilford has forcefully said “No” to the Shoreline Greenway Trail people again and again over the past 10 years, most recently at the Nov. 1 town meeting, but that was almost two months ago and the Board of Selectmen has gone radio silent. That makes us nervous. They should have scheduled a vote by now and that vote should be “No.”

Does the greenway trail organization still have the selectmen’s ear? Is the Route 1 widening still in discussion? Are other highway rights-of-way (aka our front yards) still under discussion? Are the trail people pushing another scheme we should know about?

Remember, on Nov. 1, by a two-to-one margin, a loose coalition of Guilford residents, in existence for 45 days, beat back the 15-year-old trail organization. Guilford spoke that night, loud and clear. At the very least, we earned the right of total transparency between that date and the pending selectmen’s vote. This has not been given, and should be.

Finally, putting aside politics for a moment, remember that a trail run through town on any highway right-of-way will not work. Why, you ask? Because bicyclists will have to stop at some driveways and every cross road. They simply won’t use it.

Louis Mackall

Guilford