Not Just A Hawleyville Problem

To the Editor:

In regards to the Housatonic RR’s proposal to expand the waste transfer terminal in Hawleyville — it is my hope that The Newtown Bee’s front-page article last week was read by many.

The New Times also wrote a powerful article on this subject saying, “Newtown has taken great steps to protect Hawleyville and keep its vision and concept of the area as a New England village,” July 13, 2009. The Housatonic Railroad plans are a direct slap in the face of this vision.

Many of Hawleyville’s homeowners have been fighting hard to put a stop to this expansion. But this is not just a Hawleyville problem. Everyone in Dodgingtown and Botsford, Sandy Hook and Main Street should be outraged by the prospect of this proposal moving forward. Regardless of proximity to the railroad, there is no doubt that every family, household and business in Newtown will be affected by this project if it is approved.

The Housatonic Railroad wants to expand their Strategic Disposal operation at 30 Hawleyville Road…in the center of Hawleyville to a capacity that would include contaminated soil, used casting sand, coal fly ash, sludge ash, treated woods, scrap tires, crumbled and shredded tires. They plan to operate this waste expansion, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The odor and noise that this will create would spread for miles creating an environmental nightmare.

I would hope that we are all proud to live in such a lovely town. Proud that Newtown retains so much of its historic past and small town beauty.

Now is the time to fight for the history this town holds, so that generations to come can live in every part of Newtown without feelings of fear that their neighborhood might suddenly become an industrial complex.

For more information please contact the website www.dontwastehawleyville.com

Sincerely,

Jane Cottingham

Blackman Farm

16 Blackman Road, Newtown                                          July 21, 2009