Residents should have the basic right of peace and quiet
We have been reading with great interest of the plight of homeowners residing in the area of the proposed wind farm in Bailey’s Brook. We have stood at the base of one of those turbines and listened to the incessant whomp-whomp it emitted. Our sympathies go out to you, and we wish you much success in your attempt to protect your homes from such an intrusion.
We purchase or build our home as a place of refuge, and it is our right to defend it against any outside intrusion, physical or otherwise. Our Canadian Bill of Rights entitles us to the enjoyment of property, and the right not to be deprived thereof except by due process of law.
We write from experience, having been exposed for the last 16 years to the intrusion into our lives imposed by the Pictou County Trap and Skeet Club, located on a property in Riverton. Our long Labour Day weekend was totally ruined by a competition. Between Friday morning and Monday afternoon, tens of thousands of blasts were fired. The heavy rain on Sunday, and darkness, provided the only reprieves. After one day of grace, the noise was back again on Wednesday, by suppertime, and again the following Sunday afternoon. No quiet after-work nap or pleasant dinner on those days! It is useless to plan a gathering of friends or family on a Wednesday or a Sunday!
We are amazed that the administrators of both the Adult Residential Centre and Valley View Villa have not spoken out in defence of their residents. It is a known fact that the elderly and mentally handicapped are those most affected by shotgun blasts.
We do acknowledge the fact that this competition brought a lot of participants from far-away places, thus affecting the county economy, with money put into our hotels, restaurants and stores, but we contend that it is time for the club to consider a move to a non-populated area of the county. Surely there is a tract of land that could be donated for the purpose, perhaps by the local paper mill, for example. We surmise that not one member of the club actually resides in the area they are so affecting, and suggest that perhaps one of them has a property large enough to meet their needs.
In the meantime, we respectfully urge the members of the club to adhere to an earlier promise made, that would restrict shooting activity to Wednesday evenings, until the clocks change, and Sunday afternoons thereafter, and not on BOTH days, as has been the recent practice.
We would like to encourage other residents of the Stellarton, Riverton and Plymouth areas to express their concerns, as well, especially to those who are interested in representing us on town and municipal councils.
Don and Trudy Grant
Plymouth
24 September 2008
Tags: Wind power, Wind energy
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