I read about the Pike Bus Tour, and the effort to show off the good side of a blasting, rock crushing and asphalt making organization. The article in your paper asks, “Why are people against Pike?”

In fact, no one is against Pike necessarily, although the company does subscribe to strong-armed tactics, but many of us who live and work on this side of Westbrook are opposed to a big pit on yet another busy corner of our city. No one wants to have their homes shake, their foundations crack, or live with heavy truck traffic on a daily basis at already crowded city intersections. No one in my neighborhood wants to breathe the noxious fumes of asphalt baking on hot summer days, or wipe the dust off our bikes and cars on a daily basis. No one who has a well established business in the Five Star Industrial Park really wants to bring their customers, or new employees by the city’s new hole in the ground.

The bus tour took people to Pike’s Poland site, which is far from the madding crowd, with buffers like trees, hills and roads. No one can see this pit from the road, and, in fact, it is well located from from an urban area. Location. Location. Location. Spring street is not the right location for another huge eyesore, which will significantly affect the quality of life, the work environment and the property values in our city!

Lucas Theriault

Westbrook