AMHERST - With news of two sites being recommended to the province for the new West Highlands School comes concerns from some local residents.
The Chignecto-Central Regional School Board heard from the site selection committee during a special meeting Tuesday night - a committee that proposed the two properties be put forth to the province.
Resident Mary Lewis can't see how either property would be suitable for the new elementary school, which is slated to open in the fall of 2013.
"They've already mentioned the asphalt plant being a problem for the one," Lewis commented on www.cumberlandnewsnow.com.
She was referring to the site selection committee's report to the board which addresses the committee's environmental concerns due to the proximity to the local asphalt plant, storage of waste/hazardous materials and drainage on the northeast side.
The other property, belonging to Harold Lusby, is close to where motorists come off the Trans Canada Highway.
"I feel that the lives of the children would be at greater risk at this location even though they would have crosswalk guards. Do they plan to put in a stop light or sign to make the traffic speed less?" she questioned.
Lewis said vehicles come "barreling in off the highway at over the speed limit."
School board representative David Myles said all the concerns, such as the traffic and environmental concerns, were mentioned during the site selection process.
"The concerns, I believe, have been heard and they will be addressed," said Myles.
"(The committee) looked at the concerns with traffic and everything else. Traffic would obviously have to slow down - I know what that hill is like. That's going to have to be handled."
Although the two sites are being put forth to the province for review and possible approval, it doesn't mean that one will be used for the new school.
"It's up to the department with what to do. They can reject them. They can, I would think, do whatever environmental studies that would need to be done as well as studies on traffic," said Myles.
"If, according to the province, it's unacceptable, then obviously we'd have to go back to square one.
rtetanish@amherstdaily.com
